NCC licenses six new ISPs amid fierce competition, market concentration concerns

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued licenses to six new Internet Service Providers, effective January 1, 2026, increasing the total number of licensed ISPs in Nigeria to 231.

Five of the newly licensed companies—Intellvision Technologies Limited, Granet Technologies Limited, Fiber Sonic Limited, Dasol Solution Services Ltd, and Boost ISP Limited—are headquartered in Lagos. Only one, Amazon Kuiper Nigeria Limited, is based outside the primary commercial hubs, operating from Owerri, Imo State.

The licensing activity underscores a persistent geographic concentration, with most ISP operations clustered in major urban centres like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, reflecting high infrastructure costs and barriers to deployment in less-served regions.

This development intensifies competition in a broadband market already dominated by mobile network operators (MNOs) like MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile, and disrupted by satellite players.

The entry of Amazon Kuiper positions it as a direct rival to Elon Musk-backed Starlink, which rapidly gained market share after its 2023 launch.

Industry stakeholders express concern over the competitive imbalance. Existing operators warn that smaller ISPs may struggle against the scale, investment power, and nationwide reach of dominant players.

“You cannot fight the big player; that is the reality. What we are asking for is a way to work harmoniously,” said Chidi Ibisi of Broadbased Communications Ltd.

Kehinde Joda of FibreOne highlighted structural challenges, noting many ISPs rely on undifferentiated business models and face capital-intensive network costs. “Innovation is not just about technology; it’s about how you design your packages, manage customers, and adapt to changing needs,” he stated.

Market data reveals increasing concentration. NCC figures for Q2 2025 showed Spectranet, Starlink, and FibreOne accounted for roughly 65% of active ISP customers, despite 125 licenses being held at the time.

With new licenses issued and satellite operators expanding aggressively, competitive pressures are expected to heighten further.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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