Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled a draft licensing framework aimed at encouraging innovation and accommodating emerging technologies in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector. Known as the General Authorisation Framework, the proposal is designed to support startups and digital services that do not currently fall under existing licence categories. Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum held on Thursday, in Abuja, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, represented by the Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said the new initiative responds to the rapid changes in the digital economy and the need for a more flexible and enabling regulatory approach. Dr. Maida highlighted the progress of Nigeria’s telecom sector since its liberalisation, citing a teledensity of 79.65% and broadband penetration of 48.81% as of May 2025.
However, he stressed that the evolving nature of innovation now demands a more agile regulatory structure that encourages experimentation and responsible deployment of new services. The draft framework introduces three regulatory tools, which are, Proof of Concept (PoC) to test emerging technologies in real-world conditions; Regulatory Sandbox for supervised trials of new services such as Open RAN; and Interim Service Authorisation (ISA) for temporarily accommodating services not yet covered by formal licence categories. Maida emphasised that the framework is aimed at inclusive innovation, with a focus on expanding access and empowering youth, women, and underserved communities.
Director of Licensing and Authorisation at NCC, Mr. Usman Mamman, described the framework as the outcome of extensive research, international benchmarking, and engagement with stakeholders. He said that many recent applications and pilot proposals could not be processed under the current licensing system. As such, the Commission reviewed global examples from the UK and Singapore, and aligned the framework with Nigeria’s Data Protection Act 2023, the National Broadband Plan, and the Nigerian Communications Act 2003. He stressed that the proposed mechanisms would be temporary, transparent, and useful for collecting regulatory insights while ensuring minimal disruption to existing operations. “Today’s session marks a pivotal step in our collective journey toward a more agile, inclusive, and innovation-driven communications sector in Nigeria,” Mamman said.
Head of the Telecoms Law and Regulations Unit at NCC, Dr. Mohammed S. Yusuf, presented feedback received from stakeholders ahead of the forum, including submissions from the Industry Consumer Advisory Forum (ICAF) and MTN Nigeria Communications Plc. According to him, ICAF welcomed the draft but described it as transitional and limited in scope. It recommended a minimum six-month testing phase for any new service, restricted to a controlled group of users. It also proposed that the current comfort letter be replaced with a formal indemnity to protect consumers. The forum also heard calls for more clarity in the framework, particularly on the distinction between platforms and services, the inclusion of technical details, and an appeal process for denied or suspended authorisations.
Presenting MTN Nigeria’s position, Dr. Yusuf said the telecom giant sought clarification on the framework’s coverage, suggesting it be limited strictly to the communications sector in line with the NCC’s legal mandate. MTN also proposed that the Interim Service Authorisation be treated as a separate framework due to its potential impact on existing licence holders. It raised concerns about monthly reporting requirements and instead recommended a final report be submitted after testing ends.
It also argued for reduced fees and more flexible timelines to encourage startup participation. The telecom company further urged the NCC to simplify documentation requirements and clearly define which regulatory agencies are referenced in the approval checklist. Dr. Yusuf assured the stakeholders that all feedback would be taken into consideration, describing the draft as a living document open to industry-wide contributions.
