The Head of Tariff, Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis Department of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mrs Omotayo Mohammed yesterday said that the comprehensive study on competition in the telecommunications sector was necessary to validate existing competition policies against current market realities.
Mrs. Mohammed who spoke at a stakeholders’ forum on the Study of Competition in the Nigerian Telecommunications Industry in collaboration with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Lagos on Tuesday, said the telecommunications sector, which contributed about 9.1 per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as at third quarter of 2025, had undergone significant changes in revenue models, investment patterns and market interactions.
She stressed that rapid technological change, evolving consumer behaviour, rising investment costs and heightened competitive pressures had increased concerns around market concentration, barriers to entry and small players’ sustainability.
She noted that the last comprehensive, industry-wide competition study conducted by the Commission was concluded in 2013, while subsequent studies focused on specific services and market segments.
Mohammed explained that developments in technology, market structure and consumer behaviour now necessitated a holistic reassessment of competition across the telecommunications value chain.
She said the study was diagnostic and evidence-based, stressing that it was not designed to pre-judge outcomes or single out any operator.
Director, Strategy, PwC Network, Akolawole Odunlami, noted that the study was timely, given the slowing growth and structural shifts in the global telecommunications industry.
He added that the global telecoms sector was projected to reach about 1.3 trillion dollars by 2028, but growth had slowed to about two to three per cent annually, compared to about four per cent year-on-year before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Odunlami explained that the evolution of technology, including the rollout of 5G and future 6G networks, would further reshape competitive dynamics.
“Today’s consumers are not just buying data; they are looking for digital experiences such as entertainment, financial services, self-service applications and social connectivity, with data serving as the backbone,” Odunlami said.
He said globally, telecommunications operators now integrate lifestyle services into their platforms, allowing users to access utilities, health services and fintech offerings through mobile applications.
The NCC said the findings of the study would guide proportionate, forward-looking regulatory interventions aimed at preventing anti-competitive practices, protecting consumers and ensuring the long-term stability of Nigeria’s telecom sector. (NAN)