National regulator the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced two big initiatives: a licensing review and the approval of 73 new satellite permits.
The NCC announced that it has initiated a process for the review of the existing licensing structure in the country’s telecoms industry.
While it’s not entirely clear what this will entail, the NCC has said that the review was prompted by technological advances and the convergence of technologies and services, and will reflect new licensing trends in line with international standards, while providing opportunities for improved revenue for the government.
Equally important is the fact that the existing regime is a good 20 years old. Thus, a review of the terms and conditions of the various licence categories, and consultations with industry stakeholders, which will be carried out by an in-house Standing Committee, may well be overdue. A draft framework for new and amended licences will follow the review and consultations, said the NCC.
This news follows another big NCC announcement – this time affecting the satellite sector, which last week heard that the NCC had approved 73 commercial satellite permits in the country.
The space landing permits allow various satellite providers to offer commercial satellite broadband services to users in Nigeria. Well-known names such as Intelsat, Eutelsat, Avanti, Hylas, Yahsat, Inmarsat and Iridium are just a few of the recipients of permits covering C band, Ku band, Ka band, L band, XL band, VHF band, Q/V bands, S-band and 3GPP band.
The landing permits cover a period of three to 13 years, depending on the provider.