The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has launched a free data initiative that will give eligible learners up to 100MB of daily internet access on participating networks, including MTN, Airtel and Glo.
The scheme, which took effect on October 1, 2026, is designed to provide free access to approved educational platforms, allowing learners to use the internet for online courses, research materials and other learning resources without paying for the allocated data.
At the daily limit, a learner could receive about 700MB of educational data each week and roughly 3GB in a month. Over a full year, the allocation could amount to as much as 36.5GB per learner. Brandspur Technology News Desk reports that the initiative forms part of broader efforts to expand digital access and strengthen technology-driven learning in Nigeria.
NCC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Aminu Maida, said the value of the programme becomes more significant when the daily allocation is considered across months, years and potentially millions of learners.
The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), with the pilot phase targeting 5,000 learners.
ALTON Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, disclosed that the telecommunications and wider technology industry had committed almost N200 billion in financial and in-kind support for the pilot. The contribution covers connectivity, network capacity, devices, terminals and other resources supplied by industry partners, including original equipment manufacturers and tower companies.
The partnership brings together the government, NCC, telecom operators, technology companies and other stakeholders. While the government is responsible for the policy and educational framework, the regulator oversees coordination, with network operators providing connectivity and other technology partners contributing equipment and infrastructure.
Adebayo said access to data alone would not be enough to transform digital education, stressing the importance of devices, relevant educational content, reliable infrastructure, digital literacy and sustained funding.
The programme comes as Nigerians’ demand for internet services continues to rise. NCC data showed that nationwide data consumption reached about 1.6 million terabytes in July 2026, representing an increase of nearly 47 per cent from the 1.13 million terabytes recorded in July 2025.
ALTON said it would work with the government, NCC, the Federal Ministry of Education and other partners to assess whether the initiative leads to measurable improvements in learning outcomes.
