NCC Approves ₦250,000 Fee for Interim Service Authorisation

 NCC Approves ₦250,000 Fee for Interim Service Authorisation

Abuja | January 26, 2026

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved an administrative fee of ₦250,000 for applicants seeking an Interim Service Authorisation (ISA), a regulatory permit that allows prospective telecommunications operators to test new services before full commercial rollout.

The approval is contained in the Commission’s newly released General Authorisation Framework, which is designed to lower barriers to entry, encourage innovation, and support the introduction of emerging technologies within Nigeria’s fast-evolving telecommunications sector.

According to the NCC, the framework operates as a regulatory sandbox, enabling startups, technology-driven firms, and existing operators introducing novel services to conduct controlled, real-world trials without first securing a full telecommunications licence. This approach allows service providers to test feasibility, assess consumer demand, and refine offerings, while the regulator evaluates service quality, consumer impact, and market implications ahead of commercial deployment.

In addition to the ₦250,000 ISA administrative fee, approved applicants will be required to pay other applicable charges, including fees for spectrum allocation and numbering resources, where necessary. The Commission clarified that these charges are separate from the ISA fee and will depend on the nature of the service being tested.

The NCC noted that the General Authorisation Framework modernises its licensing regime by introducing flexibility into a system traditionally considered rigid. Speaking during the unveiling of the draft framework in July, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Dr. Aminu Maida, said the initiative was developed to accommodate emerging services not adequately captured under existing licensing categories.

“We are now at a turning point where the nature of innovation demands a regulatory paradigm that is not only responsive but enabling,” Maida said. He added that the framework strikes a balance between encouraging experimentation and safeguarding consumer rights and the public interest.

Under the terms of the ISA, authorised operators may test services with up to 10,000 customers, operate only within pre-approved locations, and remain subject to continuous regulatory oversight. The authorisation is granted for an initial period of three months and may be renewed once, for a maximum duration of six months.

To qualify for an ISA, applicants must demonstrate that the proposed service is genuinely new or significantly different from existing offerings, explain how current regulations limit deployment, outline measures to protect consumers and market integrity, and submit monthly progress reports throughout the testing period. While temporary regulatory exemptions may be granted, obligations relating to consumer protection, data privacy, and security remain fully enforceable.

The Commission stressed that the granting of an ISA does not guarantee the issuance of a full telecommunications licence. Progression to a full licence will depend on the existence or creation of an appropriate licence category and a comprehensive evaluation by the NCC.

Industry analysts say the framework is expected to stimulate innovation in areas such as Open Radio Access Networks (Open RAN), spectrum sharing, and alternative connectivity models, while reducing the risk of failed market launches and ensuring that only viable services advance to full commercial operation.