The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has showcased Nigeria’s evolving telecommunications regulatory framework at the 2026 Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR), organized by the International Telecommunication Union in Ankara, Türkiye.
The annual symposium brought together telecommunications regulators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders from across the world to exchange ideas, share best practices, and address emerging policy challenges in the digital communications sector.
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This year’s edition culminated in the adoption of the “2026 Best Practice Guidelines: Regulatory Governance Essentials,” a digital regulation toolkit designed to assist regulators in navigating increasingly complex digital markets and ecosystems.
Representing Nigeria, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC participated as a panelist during a session titled “Harnessing the Power of Transformative Tech: Regulatory Approaches.”
The session featured leading telecommunications regulators and industry experts, including Carlos Manuel Baigorri, President of Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações (ANATEL), Philip Marnick, Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority Bahrain, and Donna Bethea-Murphy of Viasat Inc..
Discussions focused on the future of telecommunications regulation and how regulatory frameworks can harness the opportunities presented by transformative technologies while promoting excellence in an increasingly digital world.
During the session, the NCC highlighted efforts to build a regulatory system anchored on data, transparency, and consumer empowerment. The Commission explained its transition from data collection to data intelligence and from conventional transparency measures to frameworks that enable consumers to make informed decisions while holding operators accountable.
The Commission noted that initiatives such as Public Maps, industry statistics, Quarterly Network Performance Reports, and simplified reporting frameworks are helping consumers better understand network performance while supporting the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy.
At the Regulators’ Roundtable, participants deliberated on the evolving role of regulators in fostering digital markets and ensuring effective governance of digital ecosystems.
The NCC outlined several of Nigeria’s key regulatory priorities, including strengthening transparency, accountability, and responsible conduct within the internet ecosystem through the .
The Commission also highlighted efforts to enhance the cyber resilience of the telecommunications sector through the .
Other priorities discussed included strengthening collaboration with public authorities to promote a coordinated approach to digital market governance and advancing an incentive-based telecommunications market through spectrum management and infrastructure regulation.
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The NCC reaffirmed its commitment to aligning Nigeria’s telecommunications regulatory framework with global best practices while promoting innovation, consumer protection, and sustainable growth within the digital economy.