Nigeria’s telecom regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has released draft rules for mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) as authorities seek to organize a market that is still at an early stage.
Prepared on April 10, 2026, the NCC published the proposed “Business Rules for Mobile Virtual Network Operations in Nigeria” and opened a consultation process for industry stakeholders.
Comments can be submitted until June 29, while a public consultation is scheduled for July 9.
According to the Commission, the proposed rules define the obligations and responsibilities of both MVNOs and host network operators (HNOs).
The framework also sets conditions for licensing, compliance, interconnection, numbering resources, SIM and eSIM management, and network hosting agreements.
Regulators also seek to guarantee fair access to telecom infrastructure and reduce delays tied to the integration of MVNOs into existing mobile networks.
The text further includes provisions related to service quality, customer protection, network reliability, and data security. Violations could lead to administrative sanctions or corrective measures under existing telecom laws.
Nigeria officially opened the MVNO market in 2023. That year, the NCC awarded licenses to 25 operators for a combined 5.9 billion naira, or about $4.3 million. Since then, around 40 licenses have been issued, with operators such as Vitel and Visafone already launching services.
Authorities see MVNOs as a way to improve competition in the telecom sector while helping extend services to underserved and unserved populations.
Licensed MVNOs function without owning radio access networks (RAN) or spectrum. Instead, their operations are divided into a tiered system, ranging from Tier 1 (simple value-added services) up to Tier 5 (Unified Virtual Operators who determine their own deployment levels). This structure allows MVNOs to focus entirely on customer acquisition, branding, pricing models, and specialized retail bundles while riding on top of the MNO infrastructure.
