The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) plans to auction one licence in the 2.3 GHz band – a move that could potentially anger operators currently using that spectrum.
In May 2009 three companies – Mobitel, Spectranet, and Multilinks – each…
The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) plans to auction one licence in the 2.3 GHz band – a move that could potentially anger operators currently using that spectrum.
In May 2009 three companies – Mobitel, Spectranet, and Multilinks – each received a licence and 20 MHz of spectrum in the 2.3 GHz band to provide broadband services.
A fourth applicant, Galaxy Wireless, which did not pay the NgN1.368bn (US$8.6m) reserve price, failed to obtain a licence.
This licence will come up for auction again at the end of January 2014. But local reports suggest that the three operators opposed a potential tender earlier this year and instead suggested the extra spectrum should be split between them.
Mobitel, Spectranet and Multilinks did not respond to requests for comment.
In a statement on the NCC website, executive vice chairman Eugene Juwah said that the auction will ensure “transparency in the assignment of the available spectrum”.
He added: “This wholesale broadband provider will have the required spectrum to expand wireless broadband across the country to ISPs and other retail telecom service providers for the provision of retail high-speed internet access services.”
The government is reportedly looking to improve the quality of services provided and is aiming for an 80% broadband penetration target by 2017, in order to stimulate Nigeria’s economy.
