The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is pushing forward with the Dig Once Policy to streamline the installation of broadband infrastructure nationwide. During a recent consultative forum in Abuja, the regulator gathered various industry stakeholders, government officials, and telecom operators to shape a fair pricing model for shared underground ducts.
Ayuba Shuaibu, the NCC’s Director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, emphasized that this initiative aims to lower deployment expenses and increase asset utilization. By installing telecommunications ducts during road construction projects, the government intends to prevent the need for frequent road excavations, thereby simplifying future fiber optic expansion.
The current discussions center on creating a transparent cost-based framework that balances the needs of infrastructure owners, network operators, and the public. During the session, keynote speaker Olugbenga Olabiyi, Managing Director of Dimension Data Limited, highlighted that passive infrastructure like manholes and conduits represents a major financial burden for broadband growth. He noted that sharing these resources remains a proven method to accelerate connectivity and enhance operational efficiency.
The NCC plans to integrate feedback from this forum into its final policy report, ensuring the regulatory framework reflects actual industry conditions and remains commercially viable.