The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has rolled out a ₦250,000 administrative fee for new telecom operators and innovators seeking Interim Service Authorisation (ISA).
This fee, part of the updated General Authorisation Framework (GAF), lets applicants test ideas in a controlled environment. It helps demonstrate feasibility, assess risks, and validate services before full market launch, thus creating a safe space for startups and even large companies.
Under the new rules, applicants must pay the fee alongside their GAF submissions. NCC says this supervisory step ensures fresh entrants can deliver quality service, boosting consumer Quality of Experience (QoE).
The GAF modernizes Nigeria’s licensing process with greater flexibility, building on NCC’s recent push to spark innovation and open doors for tech-driven enterprises in the telecom sector, Newsmart gathers .
The new framework lets operators test Nigeria’s massive telecom market before full product launches, per the regulator. New entrants must cover spectrum and numbering fees too.
Its big win? Streamlining entry for innovative players via a sandbox - no full license needed upfront. Test ideas like Proof-of-Concept (PoC) in real-world trials, Regulatory Sandbox for Open RAN or spectrum sharing, and Interim Service Authorisation (ISA) for services outside existing categories.
NCC oversees live tests in controlled spots with up to 10,000 users. ISAs kick off at three months, renewable once for six total (up to nine in some cases), with monthly reports required.
Services must be truly novel: applicants explain why current rules don’t fit and detail consumer/market protections.
Temporary exemptions possible, but data privacy and consumer laws hold firm.
ISA, the telecoms regulator maintains is just a stepping stone, success doesn’t guarantee a full license. NCC reviews and creates formal categories first.
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