The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has restarted the process for the licensing of the 2.6GHz spectrum band auction to telecommunications service providers in Nigeria for full broadband service delivery to telecommunication subscribers.
A statement issued on NCC website and signed by the Executive vice chairman/chief executive officer, NCC Umar Danbatta, said: “The NCC, on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, hereby informs parties interested in participating in the Auction of Frequency Spectrum Licences in the 2.6 GHz band that the process of the Auction has resumed.
“Further details will be published in due course in print and electronic media, as well as on the Commission’s website; www.ncc.gov.ng. Interested participants are advised to be on a watch out” he said. It is expected that will issue an Information Memorandum (IM) on the Commission’s website.
Danbatta had during his first world press conference in Lagos said, he had setup a committee that was working on retuning the Commission’s spectrum licencing process in order to kick-start a fresh process devoid of rancour for awards of spectrum licences such as 2.6GH, 70MHz, etc.
The 2.6GHz spectrum has been influenced by the need to open up the space for the delivery of present and future generations of broadband services to subscribers in consonance with the Nigerian National Broadband Plan of 2013-2018. The IM is expected to provide information on the Nigerian telecommunications market, details of the spectrum to be made available, pre-qualification process, the auction process and indicative timetable among others.
NCC had in 2015 suspended the process under the Dr. Eugene Juwah-led NCC. According to the then Information Memorandum, NCC adopted for the licensing of 2×70 Megahertz (MHz) paired spectrum available in the 2.6GHz band.
The spectrum will be offered on technology neutral basis.
