{
  "node_id": "ng-nigerian-communications-act-2003",
  "title": "Nigerian Communications Act 2003 (Act No. 19 of 2003): NCC Establishment, Licensing, Interconnection, Universal Service and Type Approval",
  "domain": "Telecoms & Digital Infrastructure",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "last_updated": "2026-06-26",
  "bluf": "The Nigerian Communications Act 2003 (Act No. 19 of 2003) is the principal statute regulating the communications sector in Nigeria. Section 3 establishes the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) as the independent regulatory authority for the sector. Section 4 sets out the functions of the Commission, including facilitating investment, promoting fair competition, granting and regulating licences and protecting consumers. Section 31 imposes the core licensing requirement: no person shall operate a communications system or facility, or provide a communications service in Nigeria, unless authorised to do so under a communications licence or exempted under regulations made by the Commission, and contravention is an offence. Section 32 provides that the Commission shall issue communications licences as individual licences or class licences on the terms and conditions it determines. Sections 97 to 99 govern interconnection: section 97 requires all interconnection agreements between licensees to be in writing, section 98 requires registration of interconnection agreements with the Commission, and section 99 empowers the Commission to make interconnection regulations. Section 114 establishes the Universal Service Provision Fund (USP Fund) to promote the widespread availability and usage of network services and applications throughout Nigeria. Sections 132 and 133 govern type approval: section 132 empowers the Commission to conduct type approval tests and issue type approval certificates for communications equipment, and section 133 makes it an offence to sell or install communications equipment without first obtaining the Commission's type approval certificate. The Act is the legal foundation of telecommunications licensing, competition, interconnection and equipment regulation in Nigeria.",
  "paywall": {
    "status": "LOCKED",
    "unlock_cost_usd": "0.01",
    "skyfire_id": "41779894-ece2-4163-9761-b3b1b76e19b0"
  },
  "crosswalks": {
    "_available_keys": [
      "nist_framework",
      "iso_standard",
      "industry_mapping",
      "ai_overlay_2026"
    ],
    "_note": "Full crosswalk values included in vault response"
  },
  "primary_citations_count": 7
}