By Miriam Humbe
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has began moves to establish a regulatory framework for Satellite Direct-to-Device (D2D) connectivity in Nigeria.
NCC’s Head of Public Affairs, Mrs Nnenna Ukoha disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.
Mrs Ukoha said that the move marked a preliminary step in the Commission’s regulatory process under Section 71 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
She said that it is designed to gather views, evidence and expert input before any binding framework is introduced.
To this effect, the Commission has released a Consultation Paper aimed at engaging industry stakeholders ahead of formal rule-making.
The NCC said that outcomes from the consultation will provide clarity and an evidence-based foundation for decisions on key regulatory issues surrounding D2D services, including spectrum usage, coexistence, licensing and authorisation, competition, consumer protection, security considerations, and long-term investment incentives.
Mrs Ukoha said that feedback from stakeholders would help the Commission develop a robust understanding of emerging D2D service models and their potential impact on Nigeria’s communications ecosystem.
She said that the consultation process was intended to ensure that any eventual regulatory framework was informed, proportionate, transparent, and responsive to Nigeria’s market realities.
She said that the NCC had outlined several objectives for the consultation, including seeking evidence-based input on potential use cases, benefits, risks, and public-interest considerations associated with D2D services in Nigeria.
The Commission also aimed to gather stakeholder perspectives on suitable technologies and network architectures, expected performance standards, and deployment considerations and to assess potential spectrum demand, coexistence issues, and authorisation requirements among others benefits,she said.
Interested stakeholders and contributors are advised to access the Consultation Paper from the Commission’s website link, https://ncc.gov.ng/sites/default/files/2026-01/Consultation-Paper-on-Satellite-Direct-to-Device_2.pdf.
The site contains full background, scope, and consultation questions, to which responses should be submitted through the online form contained in the document not later than Monday, February 23, 2026.
