NCC, ALTON to offer learners 100MB free daily data

Stanley Ihedigbo

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in collaboration with the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), has announced plans to roll out a zero-rated data access initiative to provide learners with free daily access to approved educational platforms from October 1, 2026.

Under the operator-sponsored model, eligible users will receive up to 100 megabytes (MB) of free data daily to access designated educational platforms, offering opportunities for online learning, academic research, examination preparation and digital skills development.

According to the initiative’s projections, the daily allocation could provide up to 700MB weekly, approximately 3GB monthly and 36.5GB annually for learners who receive the full allowance.

The programme is designed to reduce the cost of internet access for education and improve opportunities for Nigerian students to benefit from digital learning resources, irrespective of their geographical location.

Speaking on the initiative, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said the programme forms part of broader efforts to equip Nigerians with digital skills and knowledge while advancing human capital development.

Maida said the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy, noting that achieving the target would require sustained investment in education, skills acquisition and access to learning opportunities.

He explained that the impact of the programme should not be assessed solely by the daily 100MB allocation but also by its cumulative benefits over months and years, particularly with millions of learners expected to benefit.

“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,” Maida said.

He added that improved connectivity would help bridge gaps in access to educational resources by connecting students with teachers, learning materials and knowledge resources, regardless of their locations.

The NCC chief executive described the initiative as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future and the telecommunications industry, saying that improved access to education could produce a more productive workforce capable of driving innovation, economic growth and national development.

According to him, learners who benefit from the programme could become future innovators and leaders whose ideas and productivity would create further opportunities for growth in the telecommunications sector.

On his part, ALTON Chairman, Engr Gbenga Adebayo, said the telecommunications and wider technology industry had demonstrated substantial commitment to the initiative through financial and in-kind contributions valued at nearly ₦200 billion for the initial pilot involving 5,000 learners.

Adebayo explained that the aggregate value covers the daily 100MB connectivity allocation, network resources, devices, terminals and other support provided by industry stakeholders.

He said telecommunications operators were absorbing the costs associated with providing connectivity and the network capacity needed to deliver access to approved educational platforms, describing the contribution as evidence of the industry’s commitment to the Federal Government’s education and digital inclusion agenda.

The ALTON chairman noted that the initiative had attracted a broad industry response involving telecommunications operators, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), tower companies (TowerCos) and other technology stakeholders.

He stressed that the programme’s value extended beyond the volume of data provided, highlighting its potential to help learners prepare for examinations, conduct research, acquire digital skills and participate in the emerging digital economy.

According to Adebayo, the initiative represents a collaborative approach in which the Federal Government provides the policy and educational framework, the NCC coordinates and oversees implementation, telecommunications operators supply connectivity and network resources, while technology partners contribute devices, terminals and other essential support.

He called on other stakeholders to support the initiative, noting that successful digital education required more than internet connectivity. Access to suitable devices, relevant educational content, reliable infrastructure, digital literacy and sustained investment would also be critical.

“The telecommunications industry has demonstrated its willingness to lead by example,” he said, describing the initiative as an expression of confidence in Nigeria’s young people and the country’s future.

Adebayo reaffirmed ALTON and its members’ commitment to working with the Federal Government, the NCC, the Federal Ministry of Education and other stakeholders to ensure that the investment delivers measurable and lasting educational outcomes.

“Investing in education is investing in Nigeria’s future, and the telecommunications industry is putting its resources behind that future,” he said.