Nigeria has initiated a comprehensive review of its telecommunications policy after 26 years, proposing 15 significant changes designed to address widespread network problems affecting millions of subscribers nationwide. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) expects the updated National Telecommunications Policy 2026 to take effect before year-end.
The policy overhaul comes as telecom networks face unprecedented challenges. Nigeria recorded 19,384 fibre-optic cable cuts in 2025, contributing to frequent service outages and unstable connectivity across the country.
Infrastructure Crisis Driving Policy Changes
At a policy review workshop in Lagos on Wednesday, the NCC outlined how mounting infrastructure damage has created widespread service disruptions. The commission has achieved only 25% of its planned 2026 site upgrade targets, leaving existing 4G infrastructure severely overstretched.
The proposed reforms target everyday problems subscribers face, including rising data costs, persistent network outages, weak connectivity, and growing exposure to online fraud and digital scams. These issues have become increasingly problematic as data consumption continues to surge across the country.
Comprehensive Reform Package
The 15 proposed changes encompass major restructuring of telecom governance institutions and updates to the Nigerian Communications Act. Key reforms include strengthening competition rules, promoting infrastructure sharing and national roaming, and improving spectrum efficiency for 5G and future technologies.
The policy framework introduces more transparent tariff regulation while integrating satellite broadband capabilities. Support for artificial intelligence and Internet of Things innovation features prominently, alongside encouragement for local telecom manufacturing and establishment of a Digital Innovation Fund for startups and research.
"When the National Telecommunications Policy 2000 was introduced, Nigeria's telecommunications sector was at a very different stage of development," NCC Executive Vice Chairman Aminu Maida said at the event. "The market has outgrown the assumptions of that period."
Consumer Protection and Infrastructure Security
Consumer protection receives significant emphasis through measures focusing on online safety, digital literacy, cybersecurity, and broader internet access. The new framework prioritizes affordability and network reliability as core objectives.
Telecom infrastructure including fibre-optic cables and towers would receive enhanced legal protection as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII). A one-stop permitting system and harmonised Right of Way fees are expected to reduce multiple taxation and lower broadband deployment costs nationwide.
Regulatory Evolution for Advanced Technologies
Maida emphasized that the sector has entered what he described as "the era of advanced regulatory frontiers," where regulators must address technologies including artificial intelligence, 5G, satellite broadband, Internet of Things, cloud infrastructure, and critical national information infrastructure.
The NCC executive noted that telecommunications no longer operates as an isolated sector within the economy, requiring more comprehensive regulatory approaches. This evolution drives the need for updated policies that can accommodate emerging technologies while addressing current infrastructure deficiencies.
The comprehensive policy review represents Nigeria's most significant telecommunications regulatory update since 2000, addressing both immediate infrastructure challenges and future technology integration. Implementation of these changes could significantly impact how millions of Nigerians access and pay for telecommunications services, as detailed in our mobile technology coverage.