5G Auction Will Boost Competition Among New, Existing Licencees – NCC

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has stated that the 3.5GHz spectrum which would hold on December 19th, 2022 in Abuja is designed to boost competition by making it open to both new entrants as well as existing licensees.

The spectrum would allow the deployment of fifth generation (5G) services to drive the digital economy vision of Nigeria.  Section 121 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 (the Act) allows available Spectrum resources to be licensed through different methods.

Spectrum licensing via auction is one of the most transparent methods of assigning Spectrum resources globally. Already, the Commission in response to requests for more Spectrum lots to be made available during the 2021 Stakeholders’ engagement had cleared all encumbrances in the remaining two (2) lots of the 3.5GHz band.

A statement by the director, Public Affairs, NCC, Reuben Mouka stated that the Commission has achieved the clearance earlier than estimated 24 months, thus making the Spectrum available for licensing.

“The Commission wishes to reiterate that as a regulatory body holding in trust the management and administration of scarce spectrum resources on behalf of Federal government that it will continue to make available, the much needed harmonized and standardized Spectrum resources to the industry.

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“The Auction is designed to boost competition by making it open to both new entrants as well as existing licensees. We, therefore, wish to reassure all stakeholders and investors, that the processes and schedule for the Auction of two (2) lots of 3.5GHz Spectrum will take place as planned.

“The final Information Memorandum for the Auction has been published on the Commission’s website. Interested applicants are advised to adhere to the requirements as specified in the Information Memorandum for participation in the Auction,” according to Mouka.