NCC Unveils Draft Spectrum Roadmap to Shape Nigeria’s Telecoms Growth (2025–2030)
The roadmap is designed to align spectrum policy with the National Broadband Plan and the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), with the overarching goal of promoting inclusive digital growth and long-term economic development.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has released a Draft Spectrum Roadmap for the Communications Sector covering the period from 2025 to 2030, outlining a strategic plan to guide the management and allocation of radio frequency spectrum in Nigeria over the next five years. The roadmap is designed to align spectrum policy with the National Broadband Plan and the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), with the overarching goal of promoting inclusive digital growth and long-term economic development.
Central to the roadmap are four strategic pillars that will shape future spectrum decisions. The first focuses on bridging the digital divide by prioritising universal access, particularly for an estimated 23 million Nigerians living in 87 identified unserved and underserved clusters. The second pillar emphasises market-driven investment, with flexible policies aimed at meeting the evolving needs of industry players while tracking emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and satellite direct-to-device connectivity.
The third pillar targets an improved quality of experience for consumers by setting minimum thresholds for data download speeds and enhancing overall Quality of Service (QoS) across both urban and rural areas by 2030. The fourth pillar promotes innovation through the introduction of regulatory sandboxes and a general authorisation framework that will allow new ideas and technologies—such as autonomous vehicles and advanced space services—to be tested within a controlled regulatory environment.
Looking ahead, the NCC projects significant growth in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector. Active mobile subscriptions are expected to rise from 171.6 million in 2025 to around 220 million by 2030, while national mobile data traffic is forecast to nearly triple from 11.9 exabytes to 31.7 exabytes over the same period. To support this expansion, the Commission plans to release additional spectrum, including the 450 MHz and 600 MHz bands, often referred to as the “second digital dividend.”
The roadmap also highlights a gradual technological shift within the sector. While 4G is expected to remain the primary connectivity backbone nationwide, 5G will increasingly serve as the high-capacity layer in urban centres, enabling advanced use cases such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing and data-intensive digital services.
From an economic perspective, the NCC notes the growing contribution of the ICT sector to Nigeria’s economy. As of late 2024, ICT accounted for 17.68 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, with telecommunications contributing 14.4 per cent. Since industry deregulation, spectrum allocation has supported more than $75 billion in telecom infrastructure investment. By 2030, the Commission envisions a Nigeria with universal high-speed broadband access, inclusive digital innovation across sectors such as health and agriculture, and a strong position as one of Africa’s leading digital economies.
Governance and implementation of the roadmap will be overseen by the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC), chaired by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, which serves as the apex body for spectrum management. The NCC will continue to exercise exclusive authority over spectrum licensing and management for the telecommunications sector, with implementation tracked through biannual progress updates and comprehensive annual reviews to ensure transparency, accountability and effective delivery of the roadmap’s objectives.
