Airtel emerges sole bidder in Nigeria’s second 5G license auction

Airtel Africa has emerged as the sole bidder in Nigeria’s second 5G license auction. According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), two companies – Airtel and Standard Networks & Connections Limited – applied for the 3.5GHz spectrum, but only Airtel made the initial payment of “intention to bid deposit” required.

NCC said Standard Networks & Connections sent an email appeal for the deadline to be extended by 12 working days, but this was not accepted in view of the auction timetable.

It further added that Airtel having met all the provision in the IM, has, therefore, emerged as the sole bidder. “There shall be no further bidding and the Commission will proceed to the Assignment Stage in line with the published Information Memorandum guiding the licensing process.”

The telecoms regulator placed a reserve of $273.6 million on this second license auction. This is the same price that the two winners in the first auction – MTN Nigeria and Mafab Communications – paid when they won.

Airtel Africa had initially participated in the first auction but pulled out after its final bid of $270 million was surpassed by the other two, MTN and Mafab who won.

There was an interesting twist when NCC announced it was set to auction two additional 5G licences. Airtel said it wanted NCC to grant it the licence without going through the process of auctioning. NCC however declined the request saying that it would only assign spectrum through open, transparent and competitive bidding.