Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has opened the bidding process for the licensing of infrastructure companies to deploy metropolitan optic fibre infrastructure and associated equipment in Lagos and the North Central Zone.
Eugene Juwah, executive vice Chairman, NCC, in a notice, said that the bidding process was on an open access, non-discriminatory and price regulated basis.
Juwah said that the open access model had been examined and considered as a strategic means for the deployment of optic backbone transmission infrastructure network in Nigeria that would bridge the current broadband gap, facilitate the deployment of local content and deliver cost effective services to households and businesses.
He added that the process is envisaged to address the challenge of fibre deployment in towns and cities, promote infrastructure sharing, reduce right of way issues and transform the beneficiary state to smart states amongst other privileges.
The NCC executive noted that competent companies, consortiums of which at least one of the consortium member must be Nigerian registered company or firms including those who had earlier expressed interest, were invited to submit tender for consideration.
Entries for the bid close on August 4. Winners will subsequently be announced.
