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 Commission moves to expand network capacity and improve the quality of telecommunications services nationwide.
Atiku Lawal, Head of the NCC’s Spectrum Administration Department, gave the assurance at the closing session of a stakeholders’ engagement on the development of 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 proposed roadmap as more than a technical policy document, noting that it is designed to support broadband expansion, innovation, and Nigeria’s goal of building a $1 trillion digital economy by the end of the decade.
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“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, adding that Nigerians often adopt new technologies rapidly once spectrum resources are made available.
According to Lawal, the decision to open the lower 6GHz and 60GHz spectrum bands is driven by the increase in connected devices across the country. Nigeria currently has over 200 million active lines, with more than 90 percent of connections delivered wirelessly.
“Spectrum is what connects all these devices,” he explained. “It is a finite resource, and the more of it we make available, the better the quality of service Nigerians will enjoy.”
He said the additional spectrum will help reduce network congestion, improve data speeds, and enhance user experience, while also creating opportunities for innovation across sectors such as banking, commerce, education, and healthcare. Improved connectivity, he noted, could enable services such as remote medical consultations, allowing healthcare professionals in urban centres to support patients in rural communities.
Lawal also disclosed that the NCC is exploring emerging technologies such as direct-to-device satellite communication, which allows services to be delivered directly from satellites to mobile devices without relying solely on terrestrial base stations.
He explained that unlike traditional satellite services that require large ground antennas, advances in technology now make it possible for mobile devices to connect directly to satellites.
The Commission, he said, has published a discussion paper on direct-to-device services on its website and is seeking input 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 help address capacity constraints in Nigeria’s telecoms industry, strengthen broadband infrastructure, and support the country’s digital transformation agenda.
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Lawal said the Spectrum Roadmap 2026–2030 was developed to ensure faster speeds, wider coverage, better service quality, and greater inclusion, adding that it would attract more investment into the economy.
He added that by opening the bands, the NCC was preparing the country for future data demands across mobile networks, homes, campuses, businesses, healthcare facilities, and public spaces.
