Airtel spends N71.6bn on licence renewal for 10 years
Telecom operator, Airtel Africa, yesterday said it has renewed its 900 and 1800 Megahertz, MHZ spectrum licence fees for a 10 year period, paying a whooping N71.6 billion to the Nigerian Communications Commissions, NCC.
This is also as the telco begins registration of its subscribers for the National Identification Number, NIN, in outlets across the country.
According to the telco, the NCC approved the renewal of spectrum licenses in 900 and 1800 Megahertz, MHZ, for its subsidiary Airtel Nigeria. Spectrums are unique radio frequencies used for telecommunication over the airwaves.
Chief Executive officer of Airtel Africa, Raghunath Mandava, said the spectrum licences were due to expire on November 30, 2021.
He said following the application, NCC subsequently offered Airtel Nigeria the opportunity to renew the licences in 900MHz and 1800MHz bands for a period of 10 years with effect from December 1, 2021, until November 20, 2031, which the company accepted.
Mandava said that under the terms of the spectrum licences, Airtel Nigeria had paid N71.6billion ($189m) in respect of the licence renewal fees.
“This is our largest market and we remain focused on bridging the digital divide and expanding our broadband capability in the country.
“On behalf of Airtel Nigeria and the Group, i would like to thank both the government of Nigeria and the NCC for their cooperation and support in this important process”.
The telcos yesterday, also announced that it has commenced the National Identity Number, NIN, registration exercise in its retail outlets across the country.
This is following federal government’s approval for the telco to register citizens.
Airtel says while select retail outlets in Lagos and Abuja are now fully operational to register Nigerians for the NIN exercise, work is currently ongoing to expand its NIN footprints to cover more areas and states.
Some of the centres where it is currently registering subscribers for NIN include Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Airtel Showrooms at Carpet Plaza and Kano Crescent in Wuse 2.
Others are Airtel Express Point, Victoria Island, Airtel Showroom in Surulere, Lagos, Airtel Showroom Yaba, Airtel Showroom Ogba and Airtel Showroom, Oba Akran, Ikeja.
