Under the provisions of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, the country’s telecommunication regulatory body, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has on Friday announced a temporary suspension on issuance of new licenses on three different categories.
According to a media statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs of the Commission, Reuben Muoka, the three categories include the Interconnect Exchange License, Mobile Virtual Network License, and Value-Added Service Aggregator License.
The NCC says the temporary suspension is to enable the Commission to conduct a thorough review of several key areas within these categories.
“This temporary suspension is necessary to enable the Commission to conduct a thorough review of several key areas within these categories, including the current level of competition, market saturation and current market dynamics,” the statement says.
The Commission clarified that the suspension period commences immediately from Friday 17 May, 2024, while new applications for the aforementioned licenses will not be accepted.
“This is without prejudice to pending applications before the Commission which will be considered on its merits,” Muoka further stated.
The Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 empowers the NCC to grant and renew licenses, promote fair competition and develop the communications industry.