NCC proposes new flexible licensing framework to boost telecom innovation
BY MOTOLANI OSENI
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled a draft General Authorisation Framework designed to foster innovation and support emerging technologies across the nation’s telecommunications landscape.
Targeted particularly at startups and digital services not covered by existing licences, the proposed framework seeks to provide a more adaptive regulatory environment aligned with the rapid evolution of Nigeria’s digital economy.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Abuja, NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida—represented by Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama—said the new initiative underscores the Commission’s commitment to inclusive innovation and responsive regulation.
Dr Maida noted that Nigeria’s telecom sector has recorded significant growth since liberalisation, with teledensity reaching 79.65 per cent and broadband penetration at 48.81 per cent as of May 2025. However, he stressed the need for a more agile regulatory framework to enable responsible experimentation and faster deployment of new services.
The proposed framework introduces three key regulatory tools: Proof of Concept (PoC), which allows real-world testing of emerging technologies; Regulatory Sandbox, to conduct supervised pilot trials of services such as Open RAN; and Interim Service Authorisation (ISA), for temporarily accommodating digital services not yet covered by existing licence categories.
Director of Licensing and Authorisation at NCC, Mr Usman Mamman, described the initiative as the product of extensive research, global benchmarking, and robust stakeholder engagement. He explained that many applications and proposals could not be processed under the current licensing system, prompting the need for this new framework.
The Commission reviewed international regulatory examples from the UK and Singapore and aligned the draft with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, the National Broadband Plan, and the Nigerian Communications Act 2003. Mamman said the mechanisms would be transparent, short-term, and designed to minimise disruption while generating insights to inform future policies.
“Today’s session marks a pivotal step in our collective journey toward a more agile, inclusive, and innovation-driven communications sector in Nigeria,” he said.
The forum also featured a presentation by the Head of Telecoms Law and Regulations at NCC, Dr Mohammed S. Yusuf, who outlined stakeholder feedback received ahead of the forum. The Industry Consumer Advisory Forum (ICAF) welcomed the proposal but described it as transitional and recommended a six-month minimum testing phase restricted to a controlled group of users.
ICAF also suggested replacing the current comfort letter with a formal indemnity to better protect consumers and called for clearer distinctions between digital platforms and services, as well as more detail on the appeals process and technical requirements.
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MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, in its submission, sought clarity on the framework’s scope and urged that it remain strictly within the communications sector in line with the NCC’s legal mandate. The company also recommended treating the Interim Service Authorisation as a standalone policy due to its implications for existing licence holders.
In addition, MTN called for relaxed reporting requirements, suggesting a single final report instead of monthly updates. It also proposed lower fees, simplified documentation for startups, and more flexible timelines to encourage participation.
Dr Yusuf emphasised that the framework is a “living document,” open to further contributions from the industry, and assured stakeholders that all feedback would be carefully reviewed before the framework’s finalisation.
