The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled a new spectrum strategy aimed at accelerating broadband expansion and encouraging greater investment in the country’s digital infrastructure. The regulator presented the Spectrum Roadmap for 2026–2030 at a stakeholder consultation forum in Abuja on Monday, signalling a shift towards more predictable and investor-friendly spectrum management.
The roadmap focuses on opening key frequency bands, including the lower 6 GHz and 60 GHz bands, which are expected to ease existing capacity constraints, improve broadband quality and support Nigeria’s goal of building a US$1 trillion digital economy by 2030.
Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Aminu Maida, emphasised the importance of radio spectrum — the invisible resource that makes wireless connections possible in powering modern digital services. He said the new strategy is designed to provide clarity and certainty for investors while expanding access and improving service quality across Nigeria.
“Spectrum may be invisible, yet it is indispensable,” Mr Maida explained. “Behind every digital transaction, every online classroom, every connected device in Nigeria, there is spectrum at work.”
Opening up the lower 6 GHz band is expected to unlock the full potential of Wi-Fi 6 technology, enabling faster speeds, lower latency and more reliable wireless connections across businesses, public institutions, schools and hospitals. Meanwhile, the 60 GHz band, which is licence-exempt, could support multi-gigabit wireless systems for data-heavy applications such as smart manufacturing, cloud computing and future smart-city projects.
The NCC has described the Spectrum Roadmap as more than a technical document. According to Atiku Lawal, Head of the NCC’s Spectrum Administration Department, it is also a strategic economic tool that can help close Nigeria’s digital divide by extending high-quality connectivity to underserved and rural communities.
“The demand for high-speed, reliable connectivity is no longer a luxury; it has become an absolute necessity,” Mr Lawal said. He added that the roadmap could have significant implications for education, health services, small business growth and overall social inclusion by improving access to affordable broadband.
At the forum, Abraham Oshadami, NCC’s Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, highlighted the pressures created by rising data consumption, driven by fixed wireless access, real-time applications and emerging technologies. He said existing spectrum resources are increasingly strained and that opening new bands is essential to support sustained growth.
The draft guidelines accompanying the roadmap outline how the newly available spectrum might be deployed, including technical parameters such as power limits and interference-mitigation measures. The NCC has invited feedback from telecommunications operators, technology firms and other stakeholders to refine the final version.
Industry observers say the reform signals a renewed regulatory push to align Nigeria’s telecoms infrastructure with broader economic goals and to position spectrum policy as a key driver of both investment and digital inclusion across the country.
