The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has launched its Spectrum Roadmap for 2026–2030, a strategic plan designed to transform the nation’s telecommunications sector and support President Bola Tinubu’s vision of a $1 trillion digital economy by 2030.
At a consultative forum in Abuja on Monday, industry stakeholders reviewed the framework that will guide Nigeria’s airwaves over the next five years.
NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, described spectrum as an “invisible but indispensable national resource,” stressing that the roadmap is not just technical but a tool for socio-economic inclusion.
“The Spectrum Roadmap 2026–2030 is about creating a transparent, predictable, and enabling regulatory environment that supports investment, encourages innovation, and improves service quality for all Nigerians,” Maida said.
The roadmap is anchored on four pillars: bridging the digital divide, market-driven investment, enhanced consumer experience, and innovation.
A key highlight was the draft guidelines for the lower 6GHz and 60GHz bands, which will be licence-exempt and power next-generation Wi-Fi and wireless applications: the lower 6GHz band will enable Wi-Fi 6, delivering faster speeds and wider channels for homes, schools, and hospitals.
On the other hand, the 60GHz Band (V-Band) aims to provide multi-gigabit, short-range capacity ideal for smart cities and fiber-like wireless speeds for businesses.
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The NCC projects mobile data traffic will nearly triple, from 11.9 exabytes in 2025 to 31.7 exabytes by 2030.
To meet this demand, additional spectrum in the 450MHz and 600MHz bands—the “second digital dividend”—will be released.
Executive Commissioner Technical Services, Engr. Abraham Oshadami (represented by Gidado Maigana), cautioned that while 5G deployment is advancing, surging demand from real-time applications requires deliberate planning.
“The decisions we make today will shape Nigeria’s digital trajectory for years to come,” Oshadami noted.
The roadmap, expected to take effect in early 2026, is anticipated to reduce data costs and improve internet reliability nationwide.
By: Babajide Okeowo
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