NCC engages telecoms investors on hosting cost-efficient underground cable infrastructure
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has emphasized the benefits of deploying broadband infrastructures in Nigeria through collaborative implementation of Dig-Once Policy.
The Commission gave the clarification at the second Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum to develop a pricing mechanism and cost-based structure for sharing ducts built under the Dig-Once Policy in Nigeria.
The interwctive held at the NCC Annex Office, Mbora, Abuja, on Wednesday.
The forum brought together representatives of federal and state government institutions, telecommunications operators, infrastructure companies, industry associations, development partners and other key stakeholders.
Speaking, the Director, Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis at NCC, Mr. Ayuba Shuaibu, stated that the consultative engagement underscored the Commission’s commitment to an open, transparent and inclusive regulatory process that accommodates the interests of all stakeholders.
Shuaibu said that the proposed framework was intended to encourage infrastructure sharing, improve asset utilisation, reduce the cost of broadband deployment and facilitate the expansion of telecommunications infrastructure across the country.
According to him, the study is designed to establish a fair and transparent pricing mechanism for sharing underground ducts deployed under Nigeria’s Dig-Once Policy, will encourage the installation of telecommunications ducts during road construction and rehabilitation projects, to enable future fibre deployments without repeated road excavations.
“The Commission remains committed to a transparent, inclusive and consultative process. Our objective is to arrive at a pricing structure that balances the interests of infrastructure providers, access seekers and, ultimately, consumers, while also encouraging continued investment in broadband infrastructure.
“We encourage frank, constructive and solution-oriented contributions that will strengthen the final outcomes of this study,” Shuaibu said.
He added that observations, recommendations and contributions received from stakeholders during the consultation would be reviewed and incorporated into the final study report to ensure that the resulting framework is practical, commercially sustainable and responsive to industry realities.
Delivering the keynote, the consultant, and Managing Director of Dimension Data Limited, Mr. Olugbenga Olabiyi, observed that passive infrastructure, including ducts, conduits, manholes and related facilities, constitute the most capital-intensive components of broadband network deployment globally.
He encouraged infrastructure sharing as effective strategy for reducing deployment costs, improving efficiency and accelerating broadband expansion, strengthen coordinated infrastructure deployment, minimise avoidable road excavations, improve utilisation of existing infrastructure and support broader broadband access across the country.
“Without an equitable access framework, owners of shared infrastructure may inadvertently or deliberately create barriers to entry through excessive pricing, restrictive commercial conditions or discriminatory access practices.
“Such outcomes would undermine the objectives of the Dig Once initiative and discourage investment rather than promote it.
“This is why the NCC’s initiative to develop a cost-based pricing framework deserves commendation.
“A transparent and objective pricing methodology will provide confidence to investors, infrastructure companies, mobile network operators, Internet Service Providers, fibre operators and all participants within the communications ecosystem,” he said.
Participants at the forum reviewed the interim reports and made recommendations on the proposed pricing methodology, implementation considerations and cost elements.
The stakeholder consultation builds on earlier engagements conducted by the Commission on the study.
