The Nigerian Communications Commission has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers to conduct an independent, data-driven study on the level of competition in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, marking the first comprehensive industry-wide review in about 13 years.
The regulator announced this at a stakeholders’ forum on competition in the telecom industry held in Lagos, noting that the market has undergone significant changes since the last major study was completed in 2013. The move comes against the backdrop of evolving revenue models, shifting investment patterns, rising operating costs and increased competitive pressure within the sector.
According to the Commission, rapid technological advancements, changing consumer usage patterns and higher capital requirements have reshaped market dynamics, while concerns remain around barriers to entry, market concentration, the sustainability of smaller operators and quality of service. These developments, it said, make it necessary to reassess existing competition assumptions using current market evidence.
The NCC described the telecommunications sector as the backbone of Nigeria’s digital economy, contributing about 9.1 per cent to national GDP as of the third quarter of 2025. It said the sector plays a critical role in driving growth, inclusion, innovation and service delivery across the wider economy, including for small businesses that rely on affordable and reliable connectivity.
The Commission stressed that while competition drives innovation, affordability and consumer choice, it must also be fair, effective and sustainable. It said the regulator’s role is to balance consumer protection with incentives for efficiency and investment, while keeping the market open to new ideas and entrants.
Although the NCC has conducted targeted studies in specific segments such as mobile voice termination rates in recent years, it said changes in technology, market structure and consumer behaviour now require a holistic review across the entire telecommunications value chain.
PwC was selected for the assignment due to its expertise in competition economics, market assessment and regulatory advisory, with the engagement expected to follow international best practices and ensure analytical independence. The Commission said the study is not intended to label winners or losers but to provide a clear understanding of market dynamics across infrastructure, services, pricing and emerging segments, and to identify any structural or behavioural concerns.
The study will examine both supply-side and demand-side factors. On the supply side, it will assess market concentration, pricing behaviour, access to essential facilities, barriers to entry and expansion, and the intensity of competition. On the demand side, it will review consumer usage patterns, affordability, service quality, switching behaviour and the ability of users to make informed choices.
The NCC said the credibility of the study will depend heavily on the quality of data provided by operators and stakeholders, stressing that timely and accurate information submission is a regulatory requirement rather than a procedural exercise. It added that incomplete or delayed data could affect the reliability of findings and any regulatory actions that may follow.
The Commission noted that the exercise is diagnostic in nature and aimed at strengthening regulatory certainty by ensuring that future competition-related interventions are evidence-based, proportionate and transparent.
At the forum, PwC said the global telecommunications sector is projected to reach about $1.3 trillion by 2028. While the industry has regained momentum after the pandemic, global growth has slowed to between two and three per cent annually, compared to about four per cent previously, with many of the challenges facing the sector described as global rather than unique to Nigeria.
