NCC considers 15-year spectrum licences to boost broadband investment

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is contemplating a shift to 15-year spectrum licence durations as part of a new framework that ties regulatory incentives to increased investment in broadband networks. This proposal aims to provide operators with greater certainty regarding their spectrum holdings while mandating measurable enhancements in coverage, capacity, and service quality.

The larger tenures are one option being explored under the Incentive-Based Spectrum Investment Framework (IBSIF), which the regulator is drafting for public consultation.

The NCC's goal behind the longer licence tenure is to encourage operators to commit more resources towards network deployment, as the certainty of extended access to valuable spectrum holdings could motivate them to invest more capital. Officials emphasized that this framework seeks to move away from treating spectrum mainly as a source of immediate government revenue, instead valuing its potential to generate broader economic benefits over time.

While the NCC has not set specific eligibility rules, financial incentives, or implementation dates for this framework, it plans to publish a consultation paper to gather feedback from industry stakeholders and the general public before refining and gradually introducing the proposal. The NCC acknowledged that existing licence obligations would remain in effect, and the framework would focus on connecting benefits to specific public outcomes, such as improving network deployments in areas with inadequate service or expanding capacity where demand is unmet.