August 14, 2024

The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) has solidified its reputation as a leading regulator in Nigeria’s public sector.

Through a series of impactful initiatives and effective communication with telecommunications subscribers the NCC has demonstrated a strong commitment to consumer-centric regulation, underscoring its belief in the pivotal role consumers play in driving growth within the Nigerian telecoms sector.

Regulatory Developments

The NCC has made significant strides in spectrum management by optimizing spectrum allocation. This includes the recent auction of new spectrum bands aimed at enhancing 4G services and laying the groundwork for 5G deployment.

In the realm of consumer protection, the NCC has introduced new guidelines to ensure transparency in billing, enforce service quality standards, and improve complaint resolution mechanisms.

Updated interconnection regulations are set to foster fair competition among service providers and lower costs for consumers.

Industry Performance

The telecom sector has witnessed consistent subscriber growth, with the latest figures of over 219 million in Q1 of 2024 from the 226,161,713 reported in Q1 2023, indicating a growth rate of –3.03 per cent reflecting a robust increase in mobile users, according to a latest report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The NCC has remained vigilant in monitoring trends and addressing challenges related to network coverage and service quality.

The Commission has also advocated for infrastructure sharing and collaboration among operators to reduce costs and enhance service delivery, particularly in underserved regions.

In its efforts to promote digital inclusion through expanded internet access and digital literacy initiatives, the NCC has been partnering with educational institutions and community organisations.

The executive vice chairman of the  Commission Dr. Aminu Maida, had said earlier in the year, that the NCC and the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy are working on the appropriate policies to encourage the telecom sector‘s contribution to GDP to reach 25 per cent from its current 14.58 per cent.

Strategic Initiatives
The NCC is at the forefront of the transition to 5G technology, focusing on developing regulatory frameworks, licensing procedures, and stakeholder coordination to ensure a seamless rollout.

With the need to create more awareness on cybercrimes, cybersecurity remains a top priority and the commission has continued to reiterate its commitment to implementing new protocols and partnerships to protect against threats and to safeguard data privacy.

The Commission has said at various fora that it is engaged in ongoing regulatory reforms to adapt to technological advancements and industry needs, creating a favorable environment for innovation and investment.

Ensuring compliance with new regulations among service providers requires persistent monitoring and enforcement.

The emergence of new technologies presents both growth opportunities and the need for adaptive regulatory strategies.

In a recent event, Bismarck Rewane, CEO Financial Derivatives said at a recent colloquium organised by his company, that Nigeria’s share of the global telecom investment was estimated at 0.6 per cent while its share of the global population is approximately three per cent.

“The global telecom investment is projected to hit $342bn in 2027.

“If, Nigeria can increase its share of global telecom investment to at least one per cent, this can result in $3.5bn.

“This will boost forex inflow into the country and productivity, which is suitable for employment, and overall economic growth.

“For Nigeria to regain its lost position as Africa’s largest economy, there is an urgent and imperative need to press the reset button and revive this sector as time is not on the side of Nigeria.

Reporting by: Theresa Igata