Telecoms GAF licensing to advance consumer protection, market integrity –NCC

*The Nigerian Communications Commission explains the development of draft General Authorisation Framework is a forward-looking approach to licensing that promotes innovation, regulatory oversight, consumer protection, and market integrity

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said its recent development and review of the draft General Authorisation Framework (GAF) is a flexible, forward-looking approach to licensing that promotes innovation in the country’s telecoms ecosystem.

ConsumerConnect reports the telecoms sector regulatory Commission said the effort was geared towards ensuring improved regulatory oversight, consumer protection, and market integrity in Nigeria.

The Director of Licensing and Authorisation Department of NCC, in a speech at the external stakeholders’ forum, noted the presentation of the draft General Authorisation Framework at a stakeholders’ engagement session marked a pivotal step in Nigeria’s collective journey towards a more agile, inclusive, and innovation-driven communications sector.

The Director, in the address stated: “The rapid evolution of the global digital ecosystem has directly challenged the subsisting licence framework with the Commission as we are constantly witnessing the emergence of new technologies, novel business models, and innovative services.”

According to NCC, many of these new business models and emerging techs “do not fit neatly into our traditional licensing structures.”

Recognising this shift, the Commission deemed it necessary to critically re-evaluate and retool the NCC regulatory toolkit.

It explained: “One of the key outcomes of this review is the development of the draft General Authorisation Framework (GAF), a flexible, forward-looking approach to licensing that promotes innovation while ensuring regulatory oversight, consumer protection, and market integrity.

“The drafting of the General Authorisation Framework was the outcome of extensive research, cross-departmental collaboration, and critical evaluation of both global best practices and local industry dynamics.”

As regards the rationale for the new GAF licensing approach, the NCC noted it undertook an internal review of recent service applications, inquiries, and pilot proposals that are not covered in the scope of current licence categories.

“This showed a growing need for a flexible and well-structured pathway to test new and emerging ideas,” the Commission’s Director of Licensing and Authorisation Department said.

According to the Commission, it performed a Benchmark Study, to learn how other economies support innovation, including the UK’s Ofcom Sandbox model and Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) testbeds.

It also emphasised these specific examples have helped the telecoms regulator to understand how to promote innovation in a way that still meets regulatory goals.

Key components of 3 draft regulatory instruments

The NCC explained the proposed General Authorisation Framework

framework as well aligned with national digital economy policies, such as the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, the National Broadband Plan, and the wider goals of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003.

It explained: “We also built in key protections to ensure the framework is safe and responsible.

“These include data protection rules, cybersecurity measures, customer information policies, and checks to prevent market abuse and protect consumers.

The General Authorisation Framework introduces three core pathways, including Proof of Concept (PoC) – To allow entities to demonstrate the viability of novel technologies or services.

In connection with Regulatory Sandbox, the NCC stated this to enable testing under the Commission’s supervision within a controlled environment; and

Interim Service Authorisation (ISA), a temporary authorisation to operate pending the creation of a full licence category.

The NCC said: “These mechanisms are time-bound, transparent, and designed to collect useful data for future regulation while ensuring minimal disruption to existing market structures. “Importantly, this framework allows the Commission to be proactive rather than reactive—to embrace innovation without losing regulatory grip.”

Describing the stakeholders’ engagement as performing their critical role as Partners in shaping the future of telecommunications in Nigeria.

However, the Commission stressed that the draft framework is not final.

“It is a living document that benefits from your experience, feedback, and industry insights.

“As we present the draft today, we invite your objective commentary—on clarity, Structure, implementation hurdles, or Opportunities for alignment with your respective business models.

She solicited a collective effort at ensuring that the NCC framework “becomes a solid bridge between innovation and regulation, between start-up visionaries and established players, between present limitations and future possibilities.”

The NCC asserted: “The Commission remains committed to transparency, inclusivity, and responsiveness.

“The General Authorisation Framework is a manifestation of our intent to create a licensing ecosystem that is adaptive, anticipatory, and attuned to the needs of both the industry and consumers.”

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