NCC-REA Collaboration Committee will co-develop the solutions.
Nigeria's Communications Commission and its Rural Electrification Agency have established a committee to focus on the deployment of renewable energy solutions to support telecoms infrastructure in rural and underserved areas of west African nation.
The NCC-REA Collaboration Committee aims to address both energy and connectivity gaps, which the partners say will benefit those communities who have been historically underserved.
The committee will work to co-develop and implement integrated solutions that leverage renewable energy systems to power telco sites.
In addition, the committee will focus on sharing geospatial data to improve planning, align funding frameworks, and track the socio-economic impact of the project through the implementation of clear performance indicators.
“Whether it is powering a base station or enabling a child to access digital learning, this partnership has the potential to transform realities and bring opportunity closer to the people,” EVP and CEO of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, said. “This initiative is about more than infrastructure, it is about driving inclusion, bridging inequalities, and creating the conditions for shared prosperity.”
Several telco companies have already pioneered the deployment of renewable energy systems at their sites across Nigeria. In September, IHS Nigeria formed a strategic partnership with Jaza Energy to install solar hubs at 250 of its towers in underserved areas of Nigeria.
The model has also seen uptake in other regions, including the Middle East. Last year, Batelco launched its first off-grid mobile site in Bahrain, utilizing onsite wind and solar generation to power its operations, saving upwards of 400MWh of energy per site.
