COUNTRY FOCUS: NIGERIA
For the majority of Nigerians, mobile
broadband is the first and only technology
for accessing the Internet, enabling
better access to health, education and
commercial opportunities, among other
public services.
Smartphone adoption has already risen to
over 53 million connections, and 49% of
the population are currently connected by
mobile technology, compared to less than
1% who have a fixed-line connection.
However, the report concludes that
there is still broad scope for Nigeria to
increase its mobile penetration. Although
more Nigerians are getting access to
mobile broadband, the country lags
regional peers in 4G adoption. Helping to
accelerate adoption would enable more
advanced services and create bigger
societal impacts.
With increased spectrum harmonisation
and licensing reform, the country’s
mobile penetration is forecast to rise to
55% of the population by 2025, with
70% having 3G connectivity and 17%
having access to 4G networks. Currently,
only 44% of mobile subscribers in
Nigeria are using 3G technology and 4%
are using 4G technology, compared to
over 18% 4G penetration in South Africa
and 16% in Angola.
The GSMA has identified support for
and release of harmonised spectrum
and a modernised licensing framework
as fundamental building blocks for
Nigeria’s digital future. The harmonisation
“
WITH INCREASED
SPECTRUM HARMONISATION AND
LICENSING REFORM, THE COUNTRY’S
MOBILE PENETRATION IS FORECAST
TO RISE TO 55% OF THE POPULATION
BY 2025.
of 1427 – 1518 MHz and 3.3–3.6 GHz
makes them critically important bands
for mobile operators seeking to offer
new mobile services to consumers and
businesses. Making these bands available
for assignment to mobile operators will be
a core component in reinforcing Nigeria’s
position as Africa’s leading mobile market. they could pose an impediment to future
growth. A future-fit licensing regime will
help promote market growth, boost investor
confidence and enable increased connectivity.
With active participation in the ITU
World Radiocommunication Conference
2019 (WRC-19) process, Nigeria is hugely
influential. With less than a year to go until
WRC-19, leading the region in support of
identifying new IMT bands that 5G will
benefit from, especially the 26GHz, 40GHz
and 70GHz bands, will be crucial. • Retire the Digital Mobile Licence,
the National Carrier Licence and the
International Gateway Licence
• Eliminate superseded conditions in the
Unified Access Service Licence (UASL)
and migrate many others towards a
supplementary general UASL conditions
document or to parallel regulations
• Transition to an indefinite duration for
the UASL
• Guarantee a true unified approach to
licensing, permitting licensees to offer
the full range of services, as per the UASL
scope of services provision
• Provide coverage obligations via radio
frequency licences n
Licensing updates to promote
market growth
Changes in the market and technologies
have resulted in a licensing framework and
licensing conditions in Nigeria that could
benefit from a review and update; left as is,
Building on the progress already achieved
by the NCC, the GSMA recommends the
following reforms in its report:
GSMA research
shows that the
mobile market
in Nigeria makes
an important
contribution to
the economy
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