NCC, telcos offer learners 100MB free daily data from October 1

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in collaboration with the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), will from October 1, roll out free daily data access to approved educational platforms for eligible learners.

Under the Zero-Rated Data Access to Approved Educational Platforms and Content Initiative, eligible users will receive up to 100 megabytes (MB) of free data daily to access designated educational platforms.

At the full 100MB daily allowance, a learner could receive about 700MB weekly, 3GB monthly and up to 36.5GB annually for educational purposes.

The initiative is aimed at reducing the cost of digital learning and enabling learners to access study materials, conduct research, take online courses and participate in other academic activities without paying for the allocated data.

NCC Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Aminu Maida, said the programme was part of broader efforts to expand digital skills, improve access to knowledge and strengthen human capital development.

Maida said the initiative also supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy by investing in education, skills development and access to learning opportunities.

He said the impact of the programme should be measured beyond the daily 100MB allocation, especially when the benefit is considered over months and years and across millions of learners.

“One hundred megabytes of data might sound a little, but when you look at it over a month and over a year, and cumulatively over the millions of learners and students that are going to access it, it’s really a significant investment by the industry towards the future of this country,” he said.

According to Maida, improved connectivity would also help reduce disparities in access to educational resources by connecting students with teachers, learning materials and other knowledge resources regardless of their location.

He described the initiative as an investment in Nigeria’s future and the telecommunications industry, saying a more educated and digitally skilled population would contribute to productivity, innovation and economic growth.

“If the economy becomes more productive through these people who access these educational platforms, they are the future innovators in Nigeria, they are the ones who are going to come up with ideas and become leaders of tomorrow,” Maida said.

ALTON Chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, said the telecommunications and wider technology industry had committed almost ₦200 billion in financial and in-kind contributions to the initial pilot involving 5,000 learners.

He said the figure covers the value of the daily 100MB connectivity allocation, network resources, devices, terminals and other support provided by industry stakeholders.

Adebayo explained that telecommunications operators were absorbing the cost of the connectivity and network capacity required to provide daily access to the approved educational platforms.

He said the initiative had attracted participation from telecommunications operators, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), TowerCos and other technology companies.

According to him, the value of the programme goes beyond free data, as it would help learners access knowledge, prepare for examinations, conduct research, acquire digital skills and participate in the digital economy.

“This is a partnership in the truest sense: Government provides the policy and educational framework; the regulator provides coordination and oversight; telecommunications operators provide connectivity and network resources; while OEMs, TowerCos and other technology partners contribute devices, terminals and other critical resources,” Adebayo said.

He called for wider stakeholder participation, stressing that the success of digital education would require not only connectivity but also devices, relevant content, reliable infrastructure, digital literacy and sustained investment.

Adebayo said ALTON and its members would continue to work with the government, NCC, Federal Ministry of Education and other stakeholders to ensure that the investment delivers measurable and lasting educational outcomes.