The Nigerian Communications Fee (NCC) has signalled a significant coverage shift towards satellite-powered cellular connectivity because it pushes Direct-to-System (D2D) satellite tv for pc service as a key know-how for increasing protection between 2025 and 2030.
That is a part of the draft Spectrum Roadmap for the Communications Sector (2025–2030) printed by the Fee.
The coverage path comes simply weeks after Airtel Africa introduced a strategic settlement with SpaceX to ship Starlink-powered direct-to-cell providers in Nigeria and different Airtel working markets.
What the NCC is saying
The NCC’s roadmap positions non-terrestrial networks as a vital complement to conventional cellular infrastructure, significantly in a rustic the place hundreds of thousands stay underserved by terrestrial networks as a consequence of geography, safety challenges, and excessive deployment prices.
In keeping with the NCC, Direct-to-System (D2D) satellite tv for pc providers are rising globally as a viable technique to ship voice and information providers immediately to straightforward cellular handsets with out the necessity for ground-based towers.
“In Nigeria, D2D connectivity might play a transformative position by extending voice and information protection to sign blackspots, huge rural, riverine, and border communities presently past the attain of cellular towers,” the Fee said.
“It might additionally strengthen community resilience—serving as a fallback throughout fibre cuts, energy outages, or emergencies that disrupt terrestrial networks,” it added.
- Past shopper use, the regulator says D2D adoption might improve public security, catastrophe response, Web of Issues (IoT) deployments, and sensible agriculture in underserved areas.
- Importantly, the roadmap factors to new funding alternatives via collaboration between cellular community operators (MNOs) and satellite tv for pc suppliers, significantly by way of shared spectrum utilization to enhance effectivity in Nigeria’s nationwide spectrum administration.
Increasing LEO, GEO, and high-altitude platforms
The NCC’s roadmap additionally locations sturdy emphasis on Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites as a device for bridging Nigeria’s broadband hole.
In keeping with the doc, LEO satellites are anticipated to ship high-speed web to a few of the nation’s most distant areas, reaching hundreds of thousands of Nigerians who presently lack dependable connectivity.
Along with LEO programs reminiscent of Starlink, the Fee says it plans to optimize the usage of Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellites and discover rising high-altitude platforms, together with stratospheric balloons.
These applied sciences are anticipated to help cellular backhaul options and lengthen broadband entry to rural and hard-to-reach areas the place laying fibre or constructing towers is uneconomical.
Why this issues
Nigeria has one of many largest unconnected populations on the planet, with rural broadband penetration nonetheless lagging behind that of city areas, regardless of years of funding in fibre and cellular infrastructure.
- By formally recognising D2D, LEO satellites, and different non-terrestrial networks in its spectrum roadmap, the NCC is laying the groundwork for sooner, more cost effective methods to realize common entry.
- For operators, supportive regulation might speed up the industrial rollout of satellite-backed cellular providers, cut back protection gaps, and enhance community reliability nationwide.
- For shoppers, this might translate into higher connectivity in distant areas, improved emergency communications, and new digital providers in agriculture, logistics, and public security.
What you must know
Nairametrics lately reported that Airtel Africa signed a landmark settlement with SpaceX to deploy Starlink direct-to-cell providers throughout a number of African nations, together with Nigeria.
Nigeria already hosts licensed satellite tv for pc broadband operators, with Starlink’s presence increasing competitors within the broadband market.
The NCC’s Spectrum Roadmap (2025–2030) is predicted to information future spectrum auctions, licensing frameworks, and know-how adoption throughout the telecoms sector.
Analysts anticipate elevated collaboration between MNOs and satellite tv for pc corporations as Nigeria pushes towards its nationwide broadband and digital economic system targets.
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