The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has assured Nigerians that the benefits of the newly opened 6GHz and 60GHz spectrum bands will begin to be felt before the end of the year, as the regulator moves to expand network capacity and improve telecom service quality nationwide.
The assurance was given by Atiku Lawal, Head of the NCC’s Spectrum Administration Department, during the closing session of a stakeholder engagement on the Spectrum Roadmap 2026–2030 and the guidelines for opening the lower 6GHz band for Wi-Fi 6 and the 60GHz licence-exempt band for multi-gigabit wireless systems.
Lawal described the roadmap as more than a technical policy document, saying it is designed to support broadband expansion, innovation, and Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion digital economy by the end of the decade.
“I cannot give an exact time, but from experience, you should begin to see these services being used before the end of the year,” he said, noting that Nigerians typically adopt new technologies rapidly once spectrum resources become available.
He explained that the decision to open the new bands is driven by the surge in connected devices. Nigeria currently has more than 200 million active lines, with over 90 percent of connections delivered wirelessly.
“Spectrum is what connects all these devices. It is a finite resource, and the more of it we make available, the better the quality of service Nigerians will enjoy,” Lawal said.
The additional spectrum is expected to reduce network congestion, improve data speeds, and enhance user experience. It will also create opportunities for innovation across banking, commerce, education, and healthcare. Lawal said improved connectivity could enable services such as remote medical consultations, allowing specialists in urban centres to support patients in rural communities.
He also revealed that the NCC is exploring emerging technologies such as direct-to-device satellite communication, which allows mobile phones to connect directly to satellites without relying solely on terrestrial base stations. Unlike traditional satellite services that require large antennas, newer technologies enable direct connectivity from standard devices.
The Commission has published a discussion paper on direct-to-device services and is seeking feedback from industry stakeholders and the public.
“We are opening these spectrum bands not only to improve quality of service, but to make Nigerians more productive and enable new forms of business and innovation,” Lawal said.
The planned release of the 6GHz and 60GHz bands is expected to ease capacity constraints, strengthen broadband infrastructure, and advance Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda. Lawal added that the Spectrum Roadmap 2026–2030 is designed to deliver faster speeds, wider coverage, better service quality, and greater inclusion, while attracting more investment into the economy.
By opening these bands, he said, the NCC is preparing the country for future data demand across mobile networks, homes, campuses, businesses, healthcare facilities, and public spaces.
