NCC Plans More Spectrum Licence Auctions

Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) has disclosed plans to put up three more spectrum frequencies for licensing, following the successful conclusion of the 2.3GHz broadband spectrum auction.

According to the commission, the three broadband spectrum been considered for sales before the end of 2015 are the 2.5, 2.6 and 700 GHz bandwidth.

Dr Eugene Juwah, NCC executive vice chairman, was quoted to have said this at the ongoing Mobile World Congress in a statement signed by the commission's Head of Public Relations, Reuben Morka.

CAJ news reported that the planned auction, according to Juwah, became necessary following the limited nature of the 2.3GHz wireless for last mile operators.

He noted that licensing of more spectrum would deepen broadband penetration in the country for digital economy.

“We are overhauling the entire sector to encourage competition. Towards the end of the year, we are planning to auction 2.5 and 2.6 spectrum for mobile broad band services and before the end of 2015, licence the 700GHz spectrum. Broadband demand in Nigeria is very strong. If we consider the demand we have currently, it will consume the capacity we have now,” said Juwah.

“We are creating enabling environment and incentives for the private sector to roll out broad band networks which will be a one off incentive for last mile to be achieved. We will replicate the success we made in voice in broadband plan as we proceed on the journey. “We are also going to license more retail services and encourage the operators where possible to extend fibre to homes and businesses on their own,” he added.

Juwah also said that government was committed to providing incentives to winners of infrastructure licenses.

Recently, Bitflux Communications won the 2.3Ghz spectrum band licence auction