The Nigerian Communications Fee (NCC) has engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to hold out a complete assessment of competitors in Nigeria’s telecommunications {industry}, as considerations develop over market dominance and the sustainability of honest competitors.
This was disclosed at a stakeholders’ discussion board on the Examine of Competitors within the Nigerian Telecommunications Trade held in Lagos on Tuesday.
The initiative comes because the telecom sector continues to play a essential position in Nigeria’s digital economic system, contributing 9.1% to GDP as of Q3 2025.
The Fee mentioned the research is designed to validate present competitors insurance policies in opposition to present market realities, following important structural and technological modifications throughout the {industry}.
What they’re saying
Talking on the discussion board, Head of Tariff, Coverage, Competitors and Financial Evaluation Division on the NCC, Mrs. Omotayo Mohammed, mentioned the train had develop into essential given the speedy evolution of the telecoms market.
- She famous that shifts in income fashions, funding patterns, and market interactions have basically altered how competitors performs out within the sector.
- In line with her, speedy technological development, altering shopper behaviour, rising funding prices, and rising aggressive strain have heightened considerations round market focus, boundaries to entry, and the long-term sustainability of smaller operators.
“To assist evidence-based decision-making, the Fee has engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers to conduct an unbiased, data-driven research on the extent of competitors within the Nigerian telecoms {industry}.
“The engagement displays the Fee’s emphasis on methodological rigour, analytical independence, and alignment with worldwide greatest observe in competitors and financial evaluation,” she mentioned.
Mohammed defined that the final complete, industry-wide competitors research performed by the Fee was concluded in 2013, whereas more moderen evaluations had been restricted to particular providers and market segments.
Developments in expertise, market construction, and shopper behaviour, she mentioned, now require a holistic reassessment of competitors throughout the whole telecommunications worth chain.
She careworn that the continuing research is diagnostic and evidence-based, including that it isn’t supposed to pre-judge outcomes or single out any operator.
Extra insights from PwC
Additionally talking on the discussion board, Director, Technique at PwC Community, Akolawole Odunlami, described the research as well timed, given the slowing development and structural shifts within the world telecommunications {industry}.
- He mentioned the worldwide telecoms market is projected to achieve about $1.3 trillion by 2028, however annual development has slowed to between 2% and three%, in contrast with round 4% year-on-year development earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Odunlami famous that whereas subscriber numbers in sub-Saharan Africa proceed to rise, many operators are going through declining common income per consumer (ARPU), intensifying competitors and putting strain on conventional enterprise fashions.
- He defined that shopper behaviour has additionally developed, with customers changing into more and more digital-first and searching for connectivity-enabled experiences somewhat than simply voice or information providers.
“Immediately’s customers are usually not simply shopping for information; they’re in search of digital experiences equivalent to leisure, monetary providers, self-service functions and social connectivity, with information serving because the spine,” he mentioned.
Shifting enterprise fashions
Odunlami added that globally, telecom operators are rethinking their enterprise fashions by integrating life-style providers equivalent to utilities, healthcare, and fintech into their platforms, whereas Over-The-High (OTT) providers like WhatsApp and Microsoft Groups proceed to erode conventional voice and messaging revenues.
He famous that rising applied sciences, together with 5G and future 6G networks, will additional reshape aggressive dynamics.
- Nonetheless, adoption in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa stays constrained by infrastructure gaps, low funding in analysis and growth, and sluggish uptake of 5G-enabled units.
- In line with PwC, short- to medium-term 5G adoption in sub-Saharan Africa is projected at between 14% and 17%, considerably under world averages, underscoring the necessity for stronger coverage assist and funding.
What it’s best to know
The competitors research comes at a time when the telecom market is welcoming new gamers generally known as Cell Digital Community Operators (MVNOs).
Whereas these not too long ago licensed gamers are to leverage present infrastructure of the cellular community operators, stakeholders have expressed considerations that competitors out there might suffocate them.
As of November final 12 months, BusinessTimes reported that just one out of the 43 corporations licensed as MVNOs two years in the past has been in a position to launch industrial operations.
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