By The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has released a Draft Spectrum Roadmap for the communications sector spanning 2025 to 2030, setting out a national strategy aimed at widening internet access, improving service quality and strengthening Nigeria’s digital economy.
The roadmap, which aligns with the National Broadband Plan and the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), is designed to ensure that radio frequency spectrum—one of the country’s most critical public resources—is deployed in a way that supports inclusive growth, economic productivity and social development.
At the centre of the plan is the goal of closing Nigeria’s digital divide. The NCC disclosed that about 23 million Nigerians currently live in 87 unserved and underserved communities, many of whom remain cut off from reliable internet and digital services. The Commission said the roadmap prioritises extending connectivity to these areas to improve access to education, healthcare, financial services and economic opportunities.
The roadmap also seeks to create a more predictable and investor-friendly environment for the telecommunications industry. Through flexible and market-responsive spectrum policies, the NCC aims to support network expansion while preparing the sector for emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and satellite direct-to-device communication, which could improve connectivity in hard-to-reach locations.
For consumers, the Commission said the roadmap will focus on improving quality of service nationwide. Planned measures include setting minimum benchmarks for data download speeds and strengthening service reliability in both urban and rural areas by 2030, addressing longstanding concerns over slow internet speeds and network disruptions.
Innovation is another key pillar of the policy. The NCC plans to introduce regulatory sandboxes and a general authorisation framework that will allow new technologies—such as autonomous transport systems and advanced space-based services—to be tested under regulatory supervision before full deployment.
The Commission projects steady growth in demand for telecommunications services over the roadmap period. Active mobile subscriptions are expected to rise from 171.6 million in 2025 to about 220 million by 2030, while national mobile data usage is forecast to increase from 11.9 exabytes to 31.7 exabytes. To meet this rising demand, additional spectrum bands, including the 450 MHz and 600 MHz frequencies known as the second digital dividend, are expected to be released.
Technologically, the roadmap anticipates that 4G networks will remain the backbone of nationwide connectivity, while 5G services will increasingly support high-capacity data needs in major cities. This transition is expected to enable advanced digital services such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing and data-driven public and private sector operations.
The NCC also highlighted the growing importance of the ICT sector to Nigeria’s economy. As of late 2024, ICT contributed 17.68 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product, with telecommunications accounting for 14.4 per cent. Since the liberalisation of the sector, spectrum allocation has supported more than $75 billion in telecom infrastructure investment.
Oversight of the roadmap will be provided by the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC), chaired by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, while the NCC will retain exclusive authority over spectrum licensing and management for telecommunications. Implementation will be monitored through biannual progress updates and annual reviews to ensure transparency and accountability.
By 2030, the Commission said it expects the roadmap to deliver universal high-speed broadband access, expand digital inclusion across key sectors such as health, education and agriculture, and strengthen Nigeria’s position as one of Africa’s leading digital economies.
