2.6GHz auction suspended a second time

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced that it has once again suspended the planned auction of ten-year licences for spectrum in the 2.6GHz frequency band. In a statement on its website, the regulator said it ‘regrets to inform parties interested in participating in the Auction of Frequency Spectrum Licences in the 2.6GHz band that it has decided to postpone the process of the auction until further notice. By this announcement, the 2.6GHz indicative auction timetable is suspended. We regret any inconvenience caused by this suspension’. After postponing the auction late last year for ‘administrative’ reasons, the NCC announced earlier this month that it has resumed the process of selling 14 lots of 2×5MHz FDD paired spectrum ranging from 2500MHz-2570MHz and 2620MHz-2690MHz. Under the revised timetable, the auction was due to take place during the week commencing 4 May, with the publication of the final result expected on 2 June. The 2.6GHz auction is part of the NCC’s efforts ‘to deepen competition and improve broadband penetration in the country towards achieving the goals of the National Broadband Plan’, which was approved by President Jonathan in June 2013.