NCC Targets N44.6billion from 2.6GHz Spectrum Sale

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, said the auctioning of the 2.6gigahertz (GHz) spectrum will gross a total of $224million (about N44.6billion).

Speaking on the time table for the auctioning process for the 2.6GHz spectrum in Lagos at the weekend, the NCC Director, Spectrum Administration, Nwaulume Augustine, said a total of 14 slots are open for interested bidders, adding that each slot will be on offer at $16million each.

He said the Commission is offering the spectrum on a technology neutral basis, adding that it could be used to provide any telecoms services.

For roll out of services, the Commission, he said, intended to follow the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), recommendation setting aside spectrum in the 2.6GHz band for the provision of advanced wireless broadband services.

The spectrum lots won by each bidder, he said, would be assigned on a nationwide basis covering all the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Warning that operators will be sanctioned for not rolling out services with the spectrum, he said for the purpose of enforcing the ‘’use it or lose it’’ clause, a licence will be issued for each state of the federation as well as for the FCT to each bidder.

“Each winner who does not currently hold a Unified Access Service Licence (UASL) which is the operational licence will be issued one at an additional fee of N374,600,000.00,” he said.

Giving details of the indicative timetable, he said April 29 will be the end of application and payment of mandatory intention to bid deposit while by May 6, NCC will notify qualified bidders with notification of mock auction, auction date and publication of mock auction.

He said by May 16, the Commission will conduct mock auction while the auction proper will be conducted between May 17 and 19.