The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has granted MTN Nigeria Communications Plc permission to extend its first 800MHz spectrum band licence (Channel 1) for a further 10 years, the company reported.
The renewal will take effect on January 1 and last until December 31, 2034, according to a corporate notice posted on the Nigeria Exchange Limited on Tuesday.
The second 800MHz spectrum band licence (Channel 2) of MTN Nigeria, which was scheduled to expire on December 31, 2030, has also been extended by the NCC. Its tenure is extended by four years, bringing its expiration date closer to Channel 1’s on December 31, 2034.
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“MTN Nigeria Communications PLC (MTN Nigeria or the ‘Company’) hereby notifies Nigerian Exchange Limited and the investing public that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved the renewal of its first 800MHz Spectrum band licence (Channel 1) for an additional ten years, effective from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2034,” the statement partly read.
Purpose of the spectrum license harmonisation
The purpose of the spectrum licence harmonisation is to streamline future renewals.
Commenting on the development, MTN Nigeria Chief Executive Officer Karl Toriola said, “We are pleased with the successful renewal and harmonisation of our 800 MHz spectrum licenses, which lay a solid foundation for the ongoing delivery of 4G services to our customers.”
He added, “This enables us to continue to meet the demand for data and is integral to our broader strategy for enhancing connectivity.”