Communications Commission Sees Faster Broadband, More Investments With New Spectrum Roadmap

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled plans to open the lower 6 GHz and 60 GHz spectrum bands as part of a proposed Spectrum Roadmap 2026–2030, a policy move aimed at easing capacity constraints, driving broadband expansion, and supporting Nigeria’s ambition to build a $1 trillion digital economy by the end of the decade.

The proposals were presented on Monday at a stakeholders’ consultative forum, where the regulator signalled a shift toward more predictable and investment-friendly spectrum management in response to surging data demand from businesses, households, and emerging technologies.

The Stakeholders Consultative Forum, a two-day event, will deliberate on the development of the Spectrum Roadmap 2026–2030; Guidelines for opening the lower 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi 6 and Guidelines for opening the 60 GHz license-exempt band for multi-gigabit wireless systems.

The executive vice chairman/ CEO of the Commission Dr Aminu Maida, during his address at the opening ceremony of the two-day forum on Monday in Abuja, said the Spectrum roadmap 2026-2030 is an essential national resource, adding that it will shape Nigeria’s digital future and build a communications ecosystem that is inclusive, innovative, resilient.

The NCC boss, who was represented by the head of Spectrum Administration at the Commission, Engineer Atiku Lawal, said these frameworks reflect the nation’s commitment to building a thriving digital economy in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

“Spectrum may be invisible, yet it is indispensable. It powers the connectivity behind our mobile phones, our broadband connections, our satellite services, emergency communications, financial platforms, and smart technologies. Behind every video call, every digital transaction, every online classroom, and every connected device in Nigeria, there is spectrum at work,” he said.

He noted that spectrum is also finite, stressing that the demand for it is rising rapidly, driven by data-intensive applications, cloud services, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and the expanding digital needs of our economy.

Dr. Maida pointed out that these innovations require more spectrum, smarter planning, and more flexible regulatory approaches, adding that at the same time Nigeria’s national ambitions are growing as the country wants faster speeds, wider coverage, better service quality, stronger innovation and greater inclusion.

“This roadmap is about creating a transparent, predictable, and enabling regulatory environment that supports investment, encourages innovation, expands access, and improves service quality for all Nigerians. Our objective is to set out a clear and forward- looking framework for the future use of spectrum, which will, in turn, give the industry the confidence to invest, the flexibility to innovate, and the assurance that Nigeria’s digital growth will be inclusive, sustainable, and aligned with national development priorities.

“Alongside the roadmap, the guidelines for the lower 6 GHz and 60 GHz bands represent a bold step toward unlocking new capacity for high-speed, affordable, and reliable connectivity. These bands will significantly expand the spectrum available for unlicensed use, enabling faster Wi-Fi, multi-gigabit wireless systems, and innovative services across homes, schools, businesses, and public spaces.

“Globally, Wi-Fi carries a large share of total internet traffic as indoor broadband and wireless access has grown. By opening these bands, we are preparing Nigeria for the data demands of tomorrow—not just on mobile networks, but across homes, campuses, businesses, healthcare facilities, and public spaces,” he said.

In his address, Head Spectrum Administration at the NCC, Engineer Atiku Lawal, represented by Joseph Emeshili, described the initiatives as a strategic blueprint for the nation’s digital future. He added that the forum presents a unique opportunity for all stakeholders, industry players, regulators, policymakers, and consumers to exchange insights, intellectual discourse, address challenges, and align priorities through collaboration, strategic partnerships, and inclusivity.

The Executive Commissioner Technical Services (ECTS) Engr Abraham Oshodami, who was represented by Head of Fixed Networks and Converged Services, Engr Gidado Maigana, said the engagement reaffirmed the commitment to ensure that Spectrum resources serve the needs of every community adding that the expansion of wireless broadband is driven by foresight, fairness, and national development goals.

“In addition, unlocking the lower 6GHz and 60GHz bands is a necessary step to address congestion from traditional WiFi bands. The lower 6GHz band offers wider channels and higher data rates, while the 60GHz band enables multi-gigabit wireless connectivity for advanced applications,” he said.