By Othniel Canice, Abuja
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled its General Authorisation Framework (GAF) to enhance growth in the industry and empower underserved communities.
The commission did the unveiling at its headquarters during a stakeholder engagement for the Nigerian Telecoms Industry, on Thursday in Abuja.
The Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Dr Aminu Maida said that the sector had become a symbol of innovation and progress, revolutionising communication, improving access to information, and reshaping business operations.
Maida, represented by the Executive Commissioner Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, highlighted the tremendous progress made in the telecommunications sector over the past 24 years.
He said that the sector was at a turning point, where disruptive innovations were accelerating the evolution of the communications ecosystem.
“This progress has been driven by the rapid uptake of mobile technologies, surging data consumption, and an increasing appetite for digital services.
“But we are now at a turning point, where the nature of innovation demands a regulatory paradigm that is not only responsive but enabling.
“Broadband Penetration continues to grow, while digital literacy is on the rise. These are creating a solid foundation for a vibrant digital economy driven by accessibility, innovation, and inclusivity Technological innovation is accelerating across the world and nation.”
He emphasised the need for a regulatory paradigm that was not only responsive but enabling, allowing innovators to experiment and innovate without unnecessary restrictions, adding that the framework is introduced as a key initiative to achieve this goal.
According to him, the framework has introduced three key instruments that would provide a platform for innovators to test and validate their ideas, assess risk, and measure outcomes before deployment.
He said that the success of the framework depended on the active participation of stakeholders, including mobile network operators, service providers, infrastructure companies, OEMs, startups, civil society, and academia.
He said that the framework aimed to promote inclusive innovation, expanding access, closing connectivity gaps, and empowering underserved communities.
“This is an objective that lies at the core of the NCC’s latest initiative, the General Authorisation Framework.
“By adopting this approach, we are providing a platform for innovators of various sizes, whether they are startups or established companies, to demonstrate feasibility, assess risk, and measure outcomes before deployment.
“This model encourages experimentation and responsible innovation while safeguarding consumer rights and public interest,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the stakeholder engagement would spark curiosity, refine the collective vision, and accelerate the journey towards a more connected, innovative, and prosperous Nigeria.
The EVC called for collaboration and partnership to refine the approach and ensure that it worked for Nigeria.
He added that the future of Nigeria’s digital economy was unfolding rapidly which the communications sector was at the heart of this future.
Earlier, the Director of Licensing and Authorisation Department, NCC, Mr Usman Mamman, hinted that GAF was the outcome of extensive research, cross-departmental collaboration, and evaluation of global best practices and local industry dynamics.
Mamman described it as a flexible and forward-looking approach to licensing that promotes innovation while ensuring regulatory oversight, consumer protection, and market integrity.
According to him, the NCC conducted an internal review of recent service applications and pilot proposals, revealing a growing need for a flexible pathway to test new and emerging ideas.
He said that a benchmark study was also carried out to learn from other countries, including the UK’s Ofcom Sandbox model and Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (MDA) testbeds.
“This shows a growing need for a flexible and well-structured pathway to test new and emerging ideas,” he said.
He called on stakeholders to ensure that this framework becomes a solid bridge between innovation and regulation, between start-up visionaries and established players, between present limitations and future possibilities.
Jide Johnson.