The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has convened the second stakeholders’ forum on the development of a cost-based pricing framework for shared telecommunications duct infrastructure under Nigeria’s proposed Dig-Once Policy.
Held in Abuja, the forum brought together industry stakeholders to review and validate findings from a consultancy study aimed at establishing a transparent, equitable and sustainable pricing mechanism for access to shared duct infrastructure.
Speaking at the forum, the NCC’s Head of Competition and Tariff, Mrs. Omotayo Mohammed, said the Commission engaged Silicon Base Limited in 2023 to undertake the study in response to a key gap in the implementation framework for the Dig-Once Policy.
According to her, although the policy is still in draft form, its successful implementation will depend on the availability of a clear, transparent and economically viable pricing structure for shared duct infrastructure.
She explained that the Dig-Once initiative is designed to reduce the cost and complexity of broadband infrastructure deployment by promoting coordinated civil works and the shared use of underground ducts.
Mohammed, however, noted that the policy’s objectives of efficiency, fairness and investment protection may not be fully achieved without a well-defined pricing mechanism.
“This study seeks to provide a structured and cost-based framework that ensures equitable access while supporting sustainable infrastructure development across the sector,” she said.
She recalled that the first stakeholders’ forum provided valuable industry feedback, which informed subsequent technical reviews and the development of the proposed pricing methodology.
Mohammed said the second forum offers stakeholders an opportunity to examine the assumptions, models and recommendations presented in the study to ensure the framework is practical, implementable and aligned with the realities of Nigeria’s telecommunications industry.
She reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to a transparent and consultative process aimed at balancing the interests of infrastructure providers, access seekers and consumers, while encouraging continued investment in broadband infrastructure.
The proposed pricing framework is expected to support efficient broadband deployment, promote infrastructure sharing, protect investments and ensure fair access to telecommunications duct infrastructure across the country.
The Dig-Once Policy seeks to minimise the cost, duplication and disruption associated with network deployment by ensuring that telecommunications infrastructure is installed whenever roads or public rights-of-way are opened for construction or maintenance, thereby reducing repeated excavation and improving deployment efficiency.
