Nigeria’s internet market is set for another shake-up as the Nigerian Communications Commission grants operating licences to six new Internet Service Providers starting January 1, 2026, adding fresh momentum to an already competitive broadband space dominated by mobile networks and satellite players.
The updated NCC licensing register shows the number of authorised ISPs has climbed to 231 from 225 within a month, even as the market becomes more concentrated and customer growth remains uneven.
Five of the newly approved companies are headquartered in Lagos, while one operates from Owerri, again highlighting how broadband infrastructure and investment are clustered around major cities. The new entrants include Intellvision Technologies, Granet Technologies, Fiber Sonic, Dasol Solution Services, Boost ISP, and Amazon Kuiper Nigeria.
The News Chronicle gathered that the licensing of Amazon Kuiper is particularly significant, as it signals deeper competition in low earth orbit satellite broadband, a segment currently led by Starlink, which has rapidly gained users since entering Nigeria in 2023.
Industry watchers say the move comes at a difficult time for smaller ISPs, many of which are under pressure from cheaper mobile data plans offered by MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile, alongside the fast rollout of satellite internet.
While the NCC maintains that opening the market supports innovation and wider coverage, operators warn that high infrastructure costs and pricing power could further tilt the playing field toward larger, better funded providers.
