Abuja: The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commenced a review of the Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO) Business Rules to deepen competition and expand access to telecommunications services in the country. The Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, announced this at a one-day MVNO Business Rule Stakeholders Forum organized by the commission.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Maida stated that the review aims to promote innovation and enhance the regulatory framework guiding MVNO operations while ensuring a more competitive and inclusive telecommunications ecosystem. The EVC was represented by the Director of Licensing and Authorization, Mr. Usman Mamman, who emphasized the commission’s commitment to achieving digital inclusion through these business rules.
Mamman explained that 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. He highlighted that the introduction of MVNOs into Nigeria’s telecommunications sector followed years of consultations with industry stakeholders, aiming to accommodate different business models and varying levels of technical and operational capabilities.
The framework allows qualified operators to provide mobile communication services by leveraging the infrastructure of existing Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) without owning radio spectrum or deploying nationwide radio access networks. Mamman noted that the commission had issued 46 MVNO licenses across five operational tiers, which include one Tier 1 license, 11 Tier 2 licenses, 16 Tier 3 licenses, seven Tier 4 licenses, and 11 Tier 5 licenses.
Earlier, the Head of Legal and Regulatory Services at NCC, Mrs. Chizua Whyte, mentioned that the commission developed the draft business rules to provide a clear operational framework for MVNOs within Nigeria’s communications ecosystem. Whyte pointed out that the emergence of MVNOs presents significant opportunities to deepen competition, stimulate innovation, promote service differentiation, and expand consumer choice. The stakeholder forum was convened to gather industry input to strengthen the regulatory framework before its final adoption.
Additionally, the President of the Association of Mobile Virtual Network Operators of Nigeria (AMVON), Mr. Ken Nwabueze, urged the commission to address concerns related to revenue-sharing arrangements and enforcement of the proposed business rules. Nwabueze emphasized the need for clear provisions on revenue-sharing models and effective enforcement mechanisms to promote fairness and certainty for operators.
Meanwhile, a member of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Chidi Ibisi, identified onboarding processes as a major challenge facing MVNO operators. Ibisi stated that delays in onboarding, caused by sequencing issues and internal processes of host operators, have slowed the commencement of operations for many MVNOs. He expressed optimism that the revised business rules would establish clear timelines and procedures to prevent unnecessary delays and ensure that internal restructuring or corporate policies of host operators do not hinder onboarding processes.