" ITREALMS: NCC: Co-location, infrastructure sharing’ll reduce telecom tariffs – ITREALMS

Wednesday, July 07, 2021

NCC: Co-location, infrastructure sharing’ll reduce telecom tariffs – ITREALMS

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The Nigerian Communications Commission has disclosed that its latest guidelines on co-location and infrastructure sharing will result in reduced tariffs for the telecommunication consumers, reports ITREALMS.

NCC in 31-page guidelines explicitly outlined how this translation would benefit consumers in the final analysis.


As said in the guidelines available to ITREALMS would ensure that unnecessary duplication of infrastructure is drastically reduced if not completely avoidable with added effect on reduction in the tariffs chargeable to consumers eventually.

NCC in latest guidelines on co-location and infrastructure sharing, available to ITREALMS revealed that the status which is subjected to Telecommunication Act revolved around networks interconnection regulations, competition practices regulations, Quality of Service (QoS) regulations, other laws, rules and subsidiary legislations that may be developed by the Commission from time to time and relevant Licence conditions.

The primary objective of these latest guidelines, ITREALMS gathered, is to establish a framework within which Access Providers and Access Seekers to enable them negotiate C/IS arrangements, and for that purpose.

The NCC guideline, ITREALMS gathered would ensure that the incidence of unnecessary duplication of infrastructure is minimised or completely avoided; Protect the environment by reducing the proliferation of infrastructure and facilities installations; Promote fair competition through equal access being granted to the installations and facilities of operators on mutually agreed terms;  Ensure that the economic advantages derivable from the sharing of facilities are harnessed for the overall benefit of all telecommunications stakeholders; Minimise capital expenditure on supporting infrastructures and to free more funds for investment in core network equipment.

In addition, the guidelines would encourage Access Providers and Access Seekers to pursue a cost-oriented policy with the added effect of a reduction in the tariffs chargeable to consumers.

NCC also said that Infrastructure Amenable to Sharing include those that could be shared without an attendant risk of lessening of competition. Stressing that it shall encourage and promote the sharing of passive infrastructure.

These, NCC listed to include “Rights of Way, Masts, Poles, Antenna mast and tower structures, ducts, trenches, space in buildings, electric power (public or private source), and

Also outlined in this regards are some active infrastructure, namely complete network structures, switching centers, frequencies, radio network controllers, and base stations.

ITREALMS recalls that NCC has responsibility under the Act to promote fair competition in the communications industry, encourage and support infrastructure sharing among its licensees. In addition to development of guidelines for Co-location and Infrastructure Sharing (C/IS).

These guidelines, ITREALMS gathered proceed from a premise that all “Access Providers and Access Seekers” have the liberty to negotiate Co-location and infrastructure sharing arrangements in accordance with mutually agreed terms.

Chuks Egbune/Editor

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