NCC to review InfraCo framework in line with new broadband plan

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is in the process of reviewing the Infrastructure Company (InfraCo) framework as mandated by the New National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025.

Executive chairman/CEO, NCC Prof. Umar Danbatta, made this revelation during a presentation at the recent ATCON sectoral virtual forum, adding that licensing Infracos was means to cascade capacities to hinterland through fibre infrastructure investments.

Danbatta said that such review also falls in line the Commission’s efforts to ensure even deployment of broadband infrastructure across the country and the utilization of submarine broadband landed at the sea-shores in Lagos.

Commenting on the state of InfraCo licensing, the EVC NCC said that Nigeria had only two licensees as at year 2015, but one declined and returned the license, noting that as at 2018 the Commission had additional five licensees making the number of InfraCo licenses – six.

Also commenting on spectrum utilization to support the growth of broadband in the country, he said that between 2015 and 2018 the Commission embarked on number of initiatives such as Spectrum re-planning on 800MHz CDMA spectrum.

The commission, he also said adopted re-farming of 1800 MHz for LTE and Spectrum Auctions FOR 2,6 GHz (14 Slots were given) as well as administrative assignment of 700 MHz (two of the 2 x 10 MHz)).

According to him, in year 2019, the Commission provided licenses for commercial satellite space segment with 55 operators empowered with landing permit.