NCC General Authorisation Framework Nigeria: Draft model aims to support innovation with new licensing tools and protect users in a fast-changing telecom sector

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has introduced a draft General Authorisation Framework to keep pace with emerging technologies and fast-track innovation in the telecom sector.

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The announcement was made during a stakeholder forum held on Thursday in Abuja. The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, represented by the Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said the sector is at a critical point.

“We are at a turning point where the nature of innovation demands a regulatory paradigm that is not only responsive but enabling,” he said.

The framework introduces three instruments: Proof-of-Concept pilots to test new ideas, Regulatory Sandboxes for controlled service trials, and Interim Service Authorisations for services that don’t fit existing licence categories.

These mechanisms are designed to foster creativity while safeguarding consumer rights and maintaining market order.

Director of Licensing and Authorisation at NCC, Usman Mamman, explained that the draft was informed by internal reviews and benchmarked against international standards, including the UK’s Ofcom Sandbox and Singapore’s IMDA testbeds.

He added, “These mechanisms are time-bound, transparent, and designed to collect useful data for future regulation while ensuring minimal disruption to existing market structures.”

The framework aligns with major national policies such as the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, the National Broadband Plan, and the Nigerian Communications Act 2003. It also builds in safeguards on data protection and consumer privacy.

As of May 2025, Nigeria’s telecom sector records 79.65 per cent tele-density and 48.81 per cent broadband penetration. The NCC said it aims to create a licensing model that is inclusive and forward-thinking.

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Stakeholders are invited to submit their feedback to refine the framework before final adoption.