The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said it would auction digital licence in the 2.3GigaHertz (GHz) and 2.6GHz spectra to increase broadband access and make internet pervasive across the country in 20112.
Dr. Eugene Juwah, Executive Vice Chairman of NCC disclosed that the Commission would auction the remainder of the 2.3GHz that it started auctioning in 2010. Currently, the telecom regulator is conducting an audit of all spectra within its jurisdiction.
Juwah revealed that NCC was “Constrained to auction some of the slots that are remaining in the 2.3 gigahertz. We have a plan about the Digital Dividend where maybe some of the incumbents that are there now will gain. We are also looking at the 2.6GHz frequency which today is not in the custody of the NCC, but the NBC (National Broadcasting Commission) and we are discussing with the National Frequency Management Council on these frequencies.
Juwah added “We believe that by the time we conclude all these discussions there would be enough frequency to licence, to be able to add to fibre development to create a good broadband development in Nigeria.”
He stated that modern fixed telephony was deployed through broadband and is part of NCC’s broadband project to ensure that as the Commission is empowering the private sector, providing incentive to the private sector to create broadband centres in Nigeria, this will go in hand with the restoration of fixed telephony to complement the mobile networks that we have.
“We cannot start giving out fixed line licences when we have not deployed our broadband project. So, we are about to start deploying and creating an infrastructure sector in the Nigerian telecoms industry, that will be able to create the opportunity for us to issue fixed wire licences to revive the fixed line telephony that has been in comatose in Nigeria,” he added.
In May 2010, NCC licenced Mobitel and Spectranet to operate on the 2.3GHz spectrum and provide broadband services using worldwide interoperability for mobile access (WiMax) technology to cloud the cities of operation.