Nigerian Communications Commission moves to cut broadband costs with a new cost-based framework for sharing infrastructure built under the Dig Once Policy, while reaffirming its commitment to expanding nationwide connectivity.
At the second stakeholders’ consultative forum on the Dig Once ducts pricing mechanism, held recently at the NCC Annex Office in Mbora, Abuja, regulators, operators and industry stakeholders reviewed interim study findings and helped shape an equitable, transparent approach to underground duct sharing.
The forum brought together federal and state agencies, telecom operators, infrastructure companies, industry associations, development partners and other key stakeholders to fine-tune a system that encourages reuse of ducts installed during road works and avoids repeated excavation for future fibre deployments.
Ayuba Shuaibu, Director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis at the NCC, said the exercise demonstrates the Commission’s commitment to an open, inclusive regulatory process that balances the interests of infrastructure owners, network operators, public institutions and consumers.
He said the framework aims to promote infrastructure sharing, optimise asset use, reduce broadband rollout costs and accelerate nationwide telecom expansion.
The study seeks to establish a fair pricing mechanism for ducts placed under road construction and rehabilitation projects so fibre can be deployed later without re-digging. Shuaibu added that stakeholder feedback will be incorporated into the final report to ensure the framework is practical, commercially viable and aligned with industry realities.
In a keynote, Olugbenga Olabiyi, Managing Director of Dimension Data Limited, noted that passive assets - ducts, conduits and manholes - are among the costliest components of broadband rollout worldwide.
He called infrastructure sharing a proven way to cut costs, boost efficiency and speed up broadband expansion, and said Nigeria’s Dig Once Policy presents a major chance to coordinate deployments and avoid needless roadworks.
Olabiyi cautioned that predictable, transparent and fair access rules are critical, warning that inconsistent pricing or unclear terms could deter investment and weaken the benefits of sharing.
Forum discussions examined the proposed pricing methodology and practical implementation issues, focusing on efficient deployment while balancing the needs of infrastructure providers, access seekers and consumers.
The consultation is part of the NCC’s wider push to grow broadband, encourage infrastructure sharing and drive Nigeria’s digital transformation.
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