NCC Targets High-Speed Connectivity with 6GHz, 60GHz Spectrum Expansion

NCC Targets High-Speed Connectivity with 6GHz, 60GHz Spectrum Expansion

Felicia Oladele, Abuja

Nigeria’s communications regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has moved to position the country for a new phase of high-speed digital connectivity with the unveiling of draft frameworks to open the lower 6GHz and 60GHz spectrum bands, alongside a forward-looking Spectrum Roadmap for 2026–2030.

The initiatives were presented on Monday in Abuja at a Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum on the Spectrum Roadmap 2026–2030 and Guidelines for Opening the Lower 6GHz and 60GHz Bands, organised by the NCC and attended by industry operators, technology experts and members of the media.

Speaking at the forum, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said the frameworks were designed to prepare Nigeria’s communications ecosystem for the growing data demands of a digital economy increasingly driven by artificial intelligence, cloud computing, the Internet of Things and data-intensive applications.

Maida was represented by the Head of Spectrum Administration at the Commission, Engr Atiku Lawal.

He described radio spectrum as an invisible but indispensable national resource that underpins everyday digital activities, from mobile communications and broadband access to satellite services, emergency communications and financial platforms.

According to him, behind every video call, digital transaction and online classroom in Nigeria lies the effective use of spectrum.

Maida noted, however, that spectrum is finite and under increasing pressure as demand for faster speeds, wider coverage and improved quality of service continues to rise.

He said the new Spectrum Roadmap was developed to address this challenge by providing a transparent, predictable and enabling regulatory environment that would support investment, encourage innovation and expand access to digital services across the country.

“The roadmap is about setting out a clear, forward-looking framework for future spectrum use,” he said. “It is intended to give the industry the confidence to invest, the flexibility to innovate and the assurance that Nigeria’s digital growth will be inclusive, sustainable and aligned with national development priorities.”

A key highlight of the forum was the proposed opening of the lower 6GHz band for Wi-Fi 6 and the 60GHz band on a licence-exempt basis for multi-gigabit wireless systems.

According to the NCC, the move represents a bold step towards unlocking additional capacity for high-speed, affordable and reliable connectivity in homes, schools, businesses and public spaces.

Maida explained that globally, Wi-Fi already carries a significant share of total internet traffic, particularly as indoor broadband usage continues to grow.

By making more spectrum available for unlicensed use, Nigeria is positioning itself to better meet the data demands of the future, not only on mobile networks but also across campuses, healthcare facilities and enterprise environments.

He stressed that the success of the new frameworks would depend largely on the investment, innovation and feedback of stakeholders, noting that effective regulation is a shared responsibility.

He added that the consultative forum was part of the Commission’s commitment to evidence-based and transparent regulation.

In his keynote address, the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services at the NCC, Engr Abraham Oshadami, said the draft frameworks before stakeholders were among the most consequential regulatory initiatives in recent years.

Oshadami was represented by the Head of Fixed Networks and Converged Services at the Commission, Engr Gidado Maigana.

Oshadami described spectrum as the backbone of Nigeria’s digital economy and a scarce national asset whose management requires prudence, transparency and collaboration.

He said the way spectrum is planned, assigned and regulated would largely determine Nigeria’s ability to meet its broadband targets, stimulate innovation and enhance its global competitiveness.

While acknowledging Nigeria’s progress in mobile broadband penetration, 5G rollout and quality of service improvements, he warned that rising data consumption, driven by fixed wireless access and real-time applications, calls for deliberate and forward-looking spectrum planning.

According to him, the Spectrum Roadmap 2026–2030 provides a strategic pathway that aligns spectrum management with national priorities while offering clarity and predictability to the industry.

He said stakeholders’ input was being sought on key policy objectives, including bridging the digital divide, enhancing quality of experience, promoting innovation and encouraging market-driven investment.

On the proposed opening of the lower 6GHz and 60GHz bands, Oshadami said the move was necessary to ease congestion on existing Wi-Fi bands and enable next-generation services.

He explained that the lower 6GHz band offers wider channels and higher data rates, while the 60GHz band supports multi-gigabit wireless connectivity suitable for advanced applications.

The draft guidelines, he added, are designed to define deployment scenarios and power limits, establish mechanisms for interference mitigation and provide clear compliance and operational frameworks for users of the bands.

Stakeholders at the forum are expected to submit inputs and recommendations that will be incorporated into the final versions of the roadmap and guidelines, paving the way for expanded high-speed connectivity and a more resilient digital infrastructure nationwide.