NCC Moves to Strengthen Dig Once Policy with Cost-Based Framework for Duct Sharing
Oru Leonard
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating broadband infrastructure deployment by advancing the implementation of the Dig Once Policy through a transparent and cost-based framework for sharing underground telecommunications ducts.
The commitment was made during the Second Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum on Developing a Pricing Mechanism and Cost-Based Structure for Sharing Ducts Built Under the Dig Once Policy, held at the NCC Annex Office, Mbora, Abuja.
The forum brought together representatives of federal and state government agencies, telecommunications operators, infrastructure companies, industry associations, development partners and other stakeholders to review interim findings of the ongoing study and contribute to the development of a fair and sustainable framework for duct sharing.
Speaking at the event, NCC’s Director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, Ayuba Shuaibu, said the engagement reflected the Commission’s commitment to an inclusive regulatory process that accommodates the interests of infrastructure providers, network operators, public institutions and consumers.
According to him, the proposed framework is expected to encourage infrastructure sharing, improve asset utilisation, lower broadband deployment costs and accelerate the expansion of telecommunications infrastructure across Nigeria.
Shuaibu explained that the study seeks to establish a transparent pricing mechanism for sharing underground ducts installed under the Dig Once Policy, which encourages telecommunications ducts to be laid during road construction and rehabilitation projects to eliminate repeated road excavations for future fibre deployments.
He stressed that the Commission remains committed to developing a pricing structure that balances the interests of infrastructure owners, access seekers and consumers while promoting continued investment in broadband infrastructure.
Shuaibu urged stakeholders to provide constructive contributions, noting that all recommendations received during the consultation would be reviewed and incorporated into the final report to ensure the framework is practical, commercially sustainable and responsive to industry needs.
In a keynote presentation, Managing Director of Dimension Data Limited, Olugbenga Olabiyi, described passive infrastructure—including ducts, conduits and manholes—as one of the most capital-intensive aspects of broadband network deployment worldwide.
He said infrastructure sharing has become a globally accepted strategy for reducing deployment costs, improving operational efficiency and accelerating broadband expansion.
Olabiyi noted that Nigeria’s Dig Once Policy offers a significant opportunity to improve coordinated infrastructure deployment, reduce unnecessary road excavations, maximise existing infrastructure and expand broadband access nationwide.
He, however, cautioned that inconsistent pricing models and unclear access conditions could discourage investment and weaken the benefits of infrastructure sharing.
According to him, successful implementation of the policy requires fairness, transparency, predictability and effective market oversight, adding that a transparent pricing methodology would strengthen investor confidence across the telecommunications ecosystem.
Participants at the forum reviewed the study’s interim findings and made recommendations on pricing methodology, implementation strategies and cost components aimed at ensuring efficient infrastructure deployment while balancing the interests of infrastructure providers, access seekers and consumers.
The consultation builds on previous stakeholder engagements by the Commission and aligns with the NCC’s broader efforts to promote broadband expansion, encourage infrastructure sharing and advance Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
