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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and key industry stakeholders have begun developing a cost-based pricing framework for sharing underground telecommunications ducts under the Federal Government’s Dig Once Policy, a move aimed at ending the repeated excavation of roads for fibre-optic cable installation. The initiative, unveiled at the Second Stakeholders’ Forum in Abuja, seeks to reduce broadband deployment costs, encourage infrastructure sharing and speed up fibre expansion across the country.
Under the Dig Once Policy, telecommunications ducts are installed whenever roads are constructed or rehabilitated, allowing multiple operators to deploy fibre through existing underground infrastructure instead of repeatedly digging up roads. Speaking at the forum, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Nadungu Gagare, said the policy would only achieve its full potential with a transparent, commercially viable and equitable pricing framework that promotes collaboration while protecting public interest. The NCC added that the absence of a clear pricing mechanism had remained a major obstacle to efficient infrastructure sharing.
The Commission said stakeholders are now reviewing the consultant’s proposed pricing methodology before the framework is finalised. Industry experts noted that repeated road excavations have become one of the biggest barriers to broadband expansion, increasing costs and disrupting infrastructure. Once implemented, the framework is expected to improve investor confidence, reduce duplication of infrastructure, protect public roads and accelerate Nigeria’s broadband rollout in line with the country’s digital economy agenda.
