The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has introduced draft business rules aimed at strengthening the operations of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in Nigeria. The initiative seeks to promote fair competition, protect consumers, and expand access to telecommunications services across the country.
Speaking at the Mobile Virtual Network Operator Business Rules Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum held in Abuja on Thursday, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, said the framework is intended to provide regulatory certainty and foster a transparent relationship between MVNOs and their host network operators.
Represented by the Commission’s Director of Licensing and Authorisation, Usman Mamman, Dr. Maida explained that the proposed rules clearly define the rights and responsibilities of both Mobile Virtual Network Operators and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).
According to him, the framework addresses critical areas, including licensing procedures, onboarding processes, technical integration, interconnection, quality of service, revenue-sharing arrangements, infrastructure access, consumer protection, and dispute resolution mechanisms.
“The MVNO business rules are designed to provide clarity on licensing, operational responsibilities, and relationships with host network operators while safeguarding consumer interests and maintaining market integrity,” Maida stated.
He noted that the Commission developed the draft framework following extensive engagements with industry operators and stakeholders to better understand the implementation challenges that have emerged since the introduction of MVNO licences.
The framework is expected to eliminate uncertainties surrounding commercial negotiations, access to network resources, and technical integration, while ensuring that all operators comply with established regulatory standards.
Providing an overview of the initiative, the NCC revealed that it first began exploring the introduction of MVNOs in 2017 after commissioning studies to assess the readiness of Nigeria’s telecommunications market. The findings indicated that the sector had matured sufficiently to support the MVNO model, leading to the introduction of a five-tier licensing framework in 2023.
Dr. Maida disclosed that the Commission has so far issued 46 MVNO licences across the five licensing categories. However, practical experience since the issuance of these licences has highlighted the need for clearer operational guidelines governing the commercial and technical relationships between MVNOs and host network operators.
Earlier, the NCC’s Head of Legal and Regulatory Services, Chizua Whyte, noted that MVNOs have significant potential to deepen competition within the telecommunications sector by introducing innovative business models, serving niche markets, and extending connectivity to underserved and unserved communities.
She explained that because MVNOs rely on the infrastructure of existing network operators, they can enter the market at lower costs, creating more choices for consumers without requiring substantial additional network investments.
Whyte added that the proposed rules are designed to establish a balanced regulatory framework between MVNOs and MNOs, provide certainty for investors, and encourage sustainable growth in the sector.
Also speaking at the forum, the President of the Association of Mobile Virtual Network Operators, Ken Nwabueze, described the consultation process as timely and important, noting that practical experiences from operators already active in the market should help shape the final framework.
Nwabueze, whose company launched Nigeria’s first operational MVNO in October 2025, identified revenue sharing and regulatory enforcement as two critical issues requiring attention.
“The two big elephants in the room are revenue sharing and enforcement. As we define these rules, we urge the Commission to make enforcement a key component of the framework,” he said.
The proposed business rules are expected to define how MVNOs—which provide mobile services by leasing network capacity from existing telecom operators rather than building their own infrastructure—will operate alongside established Mobile Network Operators such as MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, and 9mobile.
Industry stakeholders believe the framework will enhance competition, encourage innovation, attract investment, and ultimately improve the quality and affordability of telecommunications services for millions of Nigerians.
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