NCC Launches "Dig Once" Policy to Boost Broadband Access

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and various stakeholders are initiating a "dig once" policy to address the issue of repeated road excavations for fiber optic deployment. This policy aims to reduce the costs associated with broadband infrastructure development and promote efficient use of resources.

The initiative was unveiled during a stakeholder forum in Abuja, where Nadungu Gagar, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, emphasized its role in improving broadband access. The policy seeks to ensure that telecommunications ducts are installed whenever roads are constructed or rehabilitated, allowing multiple operators to deploy fiber using existing underground infrastructure.

Ayuba Shuaibu, Director of Policy Competition and Economic Analysis at NCC, highlighted the absence of a price mechanism for sharing ducts as a major gap in the draft policy. The proposed framework aims to strengthen investor confidence while safeguarding public interest and promoting collaboration among infrastructure providers.

The initiative is part of the federal government's broader strategy to accelerate fiber infrastructure development and reduce broadband expansion costs.