The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved a ₦250,000 administrative fee for applicants seeking Interim Service Authorization (ISA), under its newly introduced General Authorization Framework. The fee applies to startups and other telecom innovators looking to test new services in Nigeria’s telecommunications market before full commercial launch.
The requirement was disclosed in the General Authorization Framework document recently released by the regulator. According to the NCC, the framework is designed to lower barriers to entry for innovative telecom services while ensuring regulatory oversight and consumer protection.
The ISA allows new telecom operators — including startups and established firms experimenting with new models — to operate in a controlled environment where they can test feasibility, assess technical and commercial risks, and validate their solutions before applying for a full licence.
Under the framework, applicants are required to pay the ₦250,000 administrative fee alongside their application for general authorisation. They will also be subject to applicable spectrum and numbering fees, depending on the nature of the service being tested.
For the NCC, the initiative represents a shift toward more flexible and innovation-friendly regulation. Rather than forcing emerging services into rigid licensing categories, the framework creates room for experimentation through mechanisms such as proof-of-concept pilots, regulatory sandboxes, and interim authorisations.
The General Authorisation Framework updates the Commission’s existing licensing process by introducing tools that allow services not currently covered under Nigeria’s telecom regulations to be tested in real-world conditions. These include technologies such as Open RAN, spectrum sharing, and other novel network models.
While unveiling the draft framework in July, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said the new approach reflects the evolving nature of innovation in the telecoms sector.
“We are now at a turning point where the nature of innovation demands a regulatory paradigm that is not only responsive but enabling,” Maida said, adding that the framework is structured to encourage experimentation while safeguarding consumer rights and public interest.
Under the ISA, operators are permitted to test services in a live but limited market environment. The trials are restricted to specific, pre-approved locations and a capped number of users — typically up to 10,000 subscribers — and are conducted under close NCC supervision.
The authorisation is valid for an initial three months and may be renewed once, for a maximum total duration of six months. During this period, operators are required to submit monthly performance and compliance reports to the Commission.
The NCC also outlined conditions for participation, noting that services must be genuinely new or significantly different from existing offerings. Applicants are expected to demonstrate why current regulations are restrictive and provide clear plans for consumer protection, data privacy, and market integrity.
Although the Commission may grant temporary regulatory exemptions during the testing phase, it emphasised that core consumer protection and data privacy obligations will remain fully enforceable.
Importantly, the NCC clarified that an Interim Service Authorisation does not automatically lead to a full operating licence. Successful testing under the ISA only serves as a pathway, with any future licence subject to a separate review and approval process once a formal licensing category is established.
The move comes as Nigeria’s telecom regulator continues efforts to modernize its regulatory framework and support innovation, amid growing demand for new connectivity models, digital services, and infrastructure solutions across the sector.
