NCC Unveils Spectrum Roadmap to Accelerate Nigeria’s Next Phase of Broadband Growth
L-R: Deputy Director, Huawei Business Environment/Affairs Nigeria, Dr. Nihinlola Fafore; Head, Spectrum Administration Department, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Engr. Atiku Lawal; Head, Fixed Networks and Converged Services (NCC), Engr. Gidado Maigana Ahmed; Head Spectrum Assignment (NCC), Mr. Abubakar Hammanyaji; Country Lead, Digital Access Program, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Mr. Idongesit Udo; Head, Spectrum Planning, (NCC), Dr. Joseph Emeshili present at the Day1 of the Stakeholder Engagement on Spectrum Roadmap 2026 - 2030, Guidelines for the Use of the 60 GHz for Multi Gigabit Wireless Systems and the Guidelines for the Use of the Lower Part of the 6 GHz Band for Wifi-6 in Nigeria held at the Auditorium, Communications and Digital Economy Complex, NCC Annex Office, Mbora, FCT, Abuja.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has taken a concrete step toward strengthening Nigeria’s broadband future, shifting emphasis from policy declarations to practical capacity expansion with a renewed push to unlock critical spectrum resources for the digital economy.
At a stakeholder engagement in Abuja on Monday, held at the Communications and Digital Economy Complex in Mbora, the regulator rallied industry players, development partners and policymakers around its Spectrum Roadmap 2026–2030, an agenda designed to unlock new spectrum resources and accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation, while underscore how rising data consumption, 5G expansion and emerging digital services are reshaping spectrum demand.
Rather than simply outlining regulatory intentions, the NCC used the engagement to test ideas, align expectations and build consensus around how spectrum will be planned, allocated and deployed over the next five years.
At the heart of discussions were two critical frameworks: guidelines for the use of the 60 GHz band for multi-gigabit wireless systems, and the lower portion of the 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi 6 services.
The Commission said opening these bands will inject fresh capacity into Nigeria’s networks, improve speeds and reliability, and create room for innovative wireless applications across sectors.
Senior NCC officials and industry experts dominated Day One of the engagement, including representatives from Huawei Nigeria and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s Digital Access Programme.
Contributions centred on how efficient spectrum use can translate into tangible benefits, stronger enterprise connectivity, smarter infrastructure, and more resilient networks for education and healthcare.
NCC officials emphasised that predictable and transparent spectrum management remains essential to attracting long-term investment.
According to the Commission, effective planning under the 2026–2030 roadmap will support nationwide broadband expansion, deepen 5G rollout and enable high-capacity fixed and wireless services.
Industry stakeholders, meanwhile, pointed to the strategic importance of the 6 GHz and 60 GHz bands in easing congestion on existing frequencies and meeting Nigeria’s fast-growing data needs.
Development partners echoed the need for inclusive policies that ensure new spectrum opportunities also reach underserved and rural communities.
As deliberations continue, participants agreed that collaboration not regulation in isolation will determine success.
The NCC confirmed that insights from the engagement will shape final policy decisions under the Spectrum Roadmap 2026–2030, positioning Nigeria to better harness next-generation wireless technologies and strengthen its standing in the global digital economy.
