The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has disclosed plans to begin the granting of licences to mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) in the country.
Umar Garba Danbatta, the NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, EVC, stated that the commission was assessing the scope and structure of its current licenses in order to make them more robust and to take into account some of the new industry trends that have been detected.
‘Talk-To-The Regulator’, a recent two-day stakeholders consultative event conducted in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, was where he made his remarks.
Usman Mamman, head of pre-licensing at the NCC, represented Danbatta at the event.
In order to stay up with changes in the business, he claimed that NCC has improved regulations in order to account for rapid and ongoing development.
“To stay current with advances in the business, the Commission has likewise made measures to improve regulations to suit the rapid and continuing development,” Danbatta said.
“Some of the interventions and responses of the Commission include but are not limited to; Facilitating the Roll-Out of 5G Service provision. Introduction of Mobile Virtual Network Operator, (MVNO) License to bridge the gap between unserved and underserved areas.”
Also addressing, the Commission’s Director of Licensing and Authorisation, Mohammed Babajika, said that NCC has finished the framework for MVNOs and was currently in the process of licensing them.
An MVNO is a company that does not own a mobile spectrum license but offers mobile services under its brand name using the network of a licensed mobile operator.
Babajika stated that MVNOs must be licensed will increase Nigeria’s telecommunications production, allow for the extension of high-quality mobile coverage, and decrease the gap between the unserved and underserved people.
The commission is entirely committed to carrying out its job, but Babajika noted that it can only succeed with the help and support of licensees.
Thus, “The Commission acknowledges the significance of various service providers and seeks to continually engage with these service providers in order to protect the health and growth of the telecoms industry.”
