By 
By Osasome, C.O
NCC Begins First Major Review of National Telecom Policy in Nearly 30 Years
Nigeria’s telecommunications regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has launched a comprehensive review of the National Telecommunications Policy (NTP) 2000, signalling the first major overhaul of the framework since it ushered in GSM services and liberalised the sector nearly three decades ago.
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The review comes at a critical moment for Nigeria, now Africa’s largest telecom market with over 220 million active subscribers, a status built largely on reforms triggered by the original policy. The NCC said it has released a consultation document and invited operators, investors, technology experts, civil society groups and other stakeholders to submit inputs that will shape a modernised policy aligned with today’s digital realities.
From GSM Revolution to Digital Economy Backbone
Introduced at the turn of the millennium, the NTP 2000 dismantled Nigeria’s state-dominated telecom structure and opened the sector to private investment. The policy laid the groundwork for licensing GSM operators in the early 2000s, transforming telecommunications from a luxury into a mass-market service.
Before liberalisation, the sector was dominated by Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), a government-owned monopoly widely criticised for obsolete infrastructure, poor service quality and extremely low teledensity.
According to the NCC, the GSM revolution that followed redefined the market, rapidly expanding mobile access nationwide, overtaking fixed-line telephony and positioning telecoms as one of Nigeria’s most vibrant economic sectors.
Policy Lag Behind Technology Growth
Despite its success, the NCC admitted that the 2000 policy has struggled to keep pace with rapid changes in technology and market structure. Digital services, broadband deployment, satellite communications, internet governance and new connectivity models have outgrown several provisions of the existing framework.
The Commission said the policy review aims to modernise Nigeria’s telecom governance architecture while reinforcing the sector’s role as a driver of economic growth, digital trade and financial inclusion.
Over the years, the original policy also informed the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, which strengthened the NCC’s regulatory powers and improved certainty for investors, helping attract foreign capital into the sector.
Right-of-Way Charges and Infrastructure Bottlenecks
While subscriber numbers have surged, policy and regulatory challenges persist. The NCC identified high and inconsistent right-of-way (RoW) charges imposed by subnational governments as one of the biggest obstacles to telecom infrastructure expansion.
Data from the Commission shows that operators’ costs rose sharply in 2024, driven largely by RoW fees, increasing operational pressure and constraining investments in network expansion and service quality—particularly in underserved and rural areas.
These bottlenecks, the regulator warned, threaten broadband rollout targets and Nigeria’s broader digital inclusion agenda if left unresolved.
New Focus on Broadband and Critical Infrastructure Protection
Beyond updating existing sections, the NCC is proposing a new chapter in the policy dedicated to:
- Broadband development and universal connectivity
- Protection of critical national communications infrastructure
- Harmonisation of right-of-way charges nationwide
- A streamlined, predictable permitting process for telecom infrastructure deployment
The Commission said these additions are essential to sustaining growth in a market that has evolved from voice-centric GSM services to data-driven digital platforms.
NCC Reaffirms Participatory Regulation
Speaking on the review process, the NCC’s Head of Legal and Regulatory Services, Chizua Whyte, represented by the Deputy Director of LRS, said the Commission is empowered under the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 to develop and amend regulatory instruments governing the sector.
“Several amendments and new provisions have been made to key instruments, which will be reviewed during this public inquiry, reflecting the Commission’s participatory approach to regulation,” Whyte said.
Balancing Legacy Success with Future Demands
Nigeria’s NTP 2000 policy successfully transformed the nation into a telecommunications powerhouse, the NCC has acknowledged. However, the rise of broadband-driven innovation, satellite services, and digital platforms now demands a more dynamic and future-ready policy response. The Commission is therefore pivoting toward an agile regulatory framework designed to accelerate Nigeria’s digital economy ambitions.
Investment confidence and infrastructure expansion across Nigeria’s telecom sector hinge on the outcome of its current policy review. The revised framework aims to secure the country’s position as Africa’s largest telecom market while accelerating its broader digital economy goals.
