NCC seeks stronger MVNO rules to boost telecom competition

By Abubakar Yunusa

The Nigerian Communications Commission has said its Mobile Virtual Network Operators business rules are designed to provide clarity on licensing, operational responsibilities and relationships with host network operators while protecting consumers and preserving market integrity.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Aminu Maida, stated this on Monday at a stakeholders’ forum on the MVNO business rules in Abuja.
Represented by the commission’s Director of Licensing and Authorisation, Usman Mamman, Maida said the review of the framework was aimed at promoting innovation, strengthening regulation and supporting a more competitive and inclusive telecommunications sector.
He explained that the business rules were introduced to provide clear guidance on licensing requirements, operational responsibilities and the relationship between MVNOs and host Mobile Network Operators, while safeguarding consumer interests.
“The MVNO business rules are designed to provide clarity on licensing, operational responsibilities and relationships with host network operators while safeguarding consumer interests and market integrity,” Maida said.
“At the same time, we expect full compliance, and the commission will continue to exercise its mandate to ensure that all operators adhere strictly to established guidelines.”
Maida noted that the MVNO framework was the product of years of consultations with industry stakeholders and was structured to accommodate different business models and varying technical capabilities.
He added that the framework enables licensed operators to provide mobile communication services using the infrastructure of existing Mobile Network Operators without owning radio spectrum or deploying nationwide radio access networks.
According to him, the NCC has so far issued 46 MVNO licences across five operational tiers, comprising one Tier 1 licence, 11 Tier 2 licences, 16 Tier 3 licences, seven Tier 4 licences and 11 Tier 5 licences.
Earlier, the Head of Legal and Regulatory Services at the NCC, Chizua Whyte, said the draft business rules were developed to establish a clear operational framework for MVNOs.
She said the emergence of MVNOs offered opportunities to deepen competition, drive innovation, promote service differentiation and expand consumer choice.
Whyte added that the stakeholders’ forum was convened to obtain industry input before the business rules are finalised.
Speaking on behalf of operators, the President of the Association of Mobile Virtual Network Operators of Nigeria, Ken Nwabueze, urged the commission to prioritise enforcement and address concerns over revenue-sharing arrangements.
“As we define these rules, we plead with the commission to make enforcement a key component of the framework,” Nwabueze said.
Also speaking, a member of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, Chidi Ibisi, identified delays in onboarding by host operators as one of the biggest obstacles confronting MVNOs.