The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)http://www.ncc.gov.ng has extended the deadline for the submission of bids for 5G spectrum auction. The Commission is planning to auction spectrum in the 3.5 Gigahertz Band by December 13, 2021.
The submission, which was scheduled to close on Wednesday, 24th November 2021, has now been extended to Monday, November 29, 2021.
In a public notice issued by the Commission's Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, the NCC stated: "Due to the challenges posed to air travels as witnessed recently and considering that it may have some impact on intending bidders regarding the submission of their bids, the Commission hereby extends the deadline for submission of bids and Initial Bid Deposits (IBDs) to 5.00 pm on Monday, 29th November, 2021."
Existing mobile operators and new players are expected to participate in the 5G spectrum auction.
The NCC has scheduled December 10 for the mock auction, while the actual auction is fixed for December 13, 2021. According to the Information Memorandum (IM) on the auction, “a reserve price of approximately N75 billion (Seventy-Five Billion) Naira only, equivalent to One Hundred and Ninety-Seven Million and Four Hundred Thousand United States Dollars only (US$197,400,000.00) is to be used.”
NCC in the IM for the spectrum auction revealed that it would be offering two Lots of 100 MHz each in the 3.5 GHz band ranging from 3500 – 3600 MHz and 3700 to 3800 MHz for auction. The bidding operators are expected to pay an Initial Bid Deposit (IBD) equal to 10 per cent of the reserved.
“To qualify to bid in the Auction, the Applicants will not have to be Licenced Network Operators in Nigeria. However, any successful Bidder who does not have a Unified Access Service Licence (UASL) will be granted one upon payment of the specified fee. The tenure for the UASL will be Ten (10) years, subject to renewal.
“Where a winner does not hold a Unified Access Service Licence (UASL) which is the Operational Licence for the frequency Spectrum slated for auction, it will be issued at an additional fee of Three Hundred and Seventy-Four Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira only (N374, 600,000.00) or at the subsisting licence fee at the time of the auction,” NCC stated in the IM.
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