The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has slated the country’s 5G spectrum auctions for 13th December.
The auctions form part of the regulator’s Technology Deployment Plan, as well as the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025. Interested parties must apply to bid before 27th October and subsequently participate in a Stakeholders’ Engagement Programme on 3rd November.
TeleGeography reports that two lots of 100MHz TDD spectrum will be made available. The blocks will be in the 3.5GHz band from 3500MHz-3600MHz and 3700MHz-3800MHz, and each will have a reserve price of US$197.4 million. The nationwide permits will have a validity period of 10 years.
Bidders in the auction will not need to hold an operating licence; if their bid is successful and they do not already hold a Unified Access Service Licence (UASL) they will automatically be granted one, albeit for a fee. The terms of the licences require winners to launch a commercial offering within 12 months of the licence’s start date, and to connect at least one state in each of Nigeria’s six main administrative regions within two years.