The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reportedly kicked off a six-week public consultation to assess the potential for allowing direct-to-device (D2D) satellite services in Nigeria.
According to reports, the NCC issued a notice last week seeking stakeholder input on developing a regulatory framework for D2D services under Section 71 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.
Among other things, the NCC is looking for input on issues such as market opportunities, coexistence with terrestrial networks and related interference issues, and licensing and spectrum management models, such as whether D2D services could be offered under existing terrestrial network licences.
The NCC is also considering technological approaches – i.e. D2D services that use existing terrestrial spectrum vs mobile satellite services spectrum (MSS).
The NCC is also looking at public interest safeguards such as emergency access, rural inclusion and investment incentives, the report said.
The consultation paper is open to responses from telecoms licensees, device manufacturers, ISPs, government agencies, civil society organizations and consumers. The deadline for submission is February 23, 2026.
Airtel Nigeria already has a stake in the D2D space via its parent company Airtel Africa, which signed a deal with SpaceX last month to launch Starlink’s Direct to Cell (D2C) LEO satellite service across all of its 14 markets across the continent sometime this year.
Airtel Africa said at the time that launches in each market will be subject to local regulatory approval.
Airtel Nigeria currently resells Starlink’s satellite broadband service under a separate earlier agreement between Airtel Africa and SpaceX in May 2025.
