The (NCC) has intensified efforts to stabilise and strengthen Nigeria’s emerging Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) segment, unveiling a comprehensive regulatory framework alongside the issuance of 46 licences across multiple tiers.
At a public inquiry on the proposed MVNO Business Rules held in Abuja, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, , said the Commission’s intervention is aimed at resolving operational bottlenecks while fostering a more competitive and innovative telecommunications market.
Represented by the Director of Licensing and Authorisation, Usman Maman, Mr Maida noted that the new rules are designed to provide clarity on operational standards, strengthen partnerships between MVNOs and established Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), and ensure improved service delivery for consumers.
He emphasised that the regulatory framework aligns with global best practices and reflects the NCC’s commitment to transparent, fair, and predictable oversight of the telecoms industry.
According to him, the proposed rules cover critical aspects of MVNO operations, including onboarding and integration processes, hosting arrangements, interconnection, numbering resources, SIM and eSIM management, quality of service obligations, infrastructure access, and dispute resolution mechanisms.
Mr Maida added that the Commission took into account industry concerns such as onboarding delays, technical integration challenges, access to network infrastructure, and complexities in commercial negotiations between operators.
Providing further insight, Mr Maman traced the evolution of the MVNO policy to 2017, when the NCC conducted a market readiness assessment which confirmed that Nigeria’s telecommunications sector had matured sufficiently to accommodate virtual operators.
This led to the introduction of a five-tier licensing framework in 2023, structured to support varying levels of technical capacity and business models.
“As of today, the Commission has issued a total of 46 MVNO licences across the five tiers,” Mr Maman said.
A breakdown shows that one licence was granted under Tier 1, 11 under Tier 2, 16 under Tier 3, seven under Tier 4, and 11 under Tier 5.
He stressed that while licensing created entry opportunities into the market, effective implementation depends on clearly defined operational guidelines that regulate relationships among industry players.
Stakeholders at the forum acknowledged the Commission’s intervention as timely. President of the Association of Mobile Virtual Network Operators, Kenneth Nwabueze, said operators now have practical industry experience that can inform regulatory improvements.
He, however, urged the NCC to prioritise enforcement and ensure fair revenue-sharing arrangements between MVNOs and host network providers, noting that balanced partnerships would be critical to the long-term success of the initiative.
Industry observers say the NCC’s renewed regulatory push could unlock new opportunities in Nigeria’s telecoms sector by lowering entry barriers, expanding service reach, and accelerating digital inclusion.
