Spectrum: Blocked by indecision
Nigeria will auction spectrum to encourage competition in telecoms, while dithering in
While the spectrum impasse in SA’s telecoms sector continues, Nigerian regulators are preparing to expand the country’s broadband coverage. This access to additional radio frequencies will give SA network provider MTN an opportunity to grow its footprint and improve its service in the populous West African country. It still does not have the luxury of additional radio frequencies in its home market. Nigeria has traditionally been a lucrative market for MTN in spite of the US$1bn fine it was slapped with in 2015 for failing to cut off unregistered SIM cards. Spectrum refers to radio waves that are used to communicate via FM and AM radio broadcasts, Bluetooth and even Wi-Fi. SA’s reallocation of spectrum that is now used by analogue TV broadcasts has stalled while other countries have used higher-frequency spectrum bands for cellular communication. The Nigerian Communications Commission hopes the additional spectrum will increase broadband penetration in Nigeria to 30% next year, from...
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