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Tag: NCC

  • NCC set to end cybercrime

    The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Dambatta, has said cybercrime will soon end in the country.

    He said punitive measures were being put in place to checkmate the trend.

    Dambatta addressed reporters in Kano after receiving an award of excellence at this year’s annual dinner and awards night alongside the wife of the governor, Dr Hafsat Abdullahi Ganduje and others.

    The event was organised by the Kabuga branch of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).

    The NCC chief said the activities of cybercrime were becoming worrisome.

    He said: “The Federal Government is putting in place all necessary measures to contain cybercrime, especially in our Banking sector and other areas in the country.

    “We are aware that cybercrime has a space file and measures have already been taken.”

    Read also: NCC alerts telecom consumers on rising wave of Cybercrimes

    Dambatta said the Nigerian Computer Emergency Response team with a network of computers put together to contain cybercrimes was on the ground to protect the nation’s cyber space.

    The NCC chief and the team is domiciled in the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

    Other measures in place, he said, are in the Telecommunication sector, where another computer emergency team, called Cybercrime Incidence Response team, will be set up.

    Dambatta said: “We would see that these steps are being taken by the NCC as a further reinforcement of measures by government to checkmate cybercrime and nip it in the bud.”

     

     

     

  • eWorld awards for NCC, eStream, Medallion, ALTON others

    The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) and the Galaxy Backbone were among the select few that received the eWorld on Monday.

    The Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) also got recognition at the colourful event to mark the 10th Edition of eWorld Forum, at Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

    The remarkable work of Rack Centre, Medallion, IXPN and eStreams in ensuring that local firms take the driver seat in ensuring internet connectivity and hosting data locally received accolades at the event.

    NCC received Nigeria’s Best Corporate Governance and Regulatory Agency carrying out its tasks and targets with focus and dedication while  Galaxy Backbone received Nigeria’s Best eGovernance Champion award for its work in building a sustainable economy using technology, uplifting the image of .ng.

    ALTON got Nigeria’s Best ICT Development Advocate award for its dogged fight in ensuring that telecom operators operate in the best of environment to drive the needed development of the sector, and ultimately for the good of the Nigerian economy and its people.

  • NCC: MTN’s listing’ll spur other telcos

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said the listing of South African Telecom giant MTN on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) would open doors for other  big telcos   to be listed on the NSE.

    It said this will lead to rapid increase in Foreign Direct Investments (FDI ) and infrastructural development for the industry.

    Speaking reporters at the Headquarters of the NCC in Abuja, its Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management, Mr Sunday Dare, said NCC was involved in the procedures and processes that led to the listing of the telecoms giant.

    He added that notwithstanding the on-going investigations, the Commission played its regulatory and supervisory roles regarding the matter without any form of misgivings.

    Mr Dare who spoke on a wide range of issues, said Nigeria is ready for the deployment of 5G technology in the industry, saying all the legal frameworks and other technical issues regarding its deployment have been considered by all stakeholders.

    He however regretted that the biggest challenge to the telecom industry is electricity supply and fibre cuts, stating that over 24,000 base stations (BTS) across the country are being powered by generators for an average of between 18 and 22 hours per day.

    Mr Dare also said in line with global best practices, Nigeria would soon migrate from data capturing of five fingers to 10 fingers to make the process of subscriber identity module (SIM) cards registration more credible. He added that this would improve security and accelerate growth and development of the country.

    Mr Dare said: “A few months ago, we had a forum on 5G readiness where all critical stakeholders comprehensively examined the legal, regulatory and technology issues and we are developing a roadmap.  So to say NCC is not getting the industry ready, is again, a mark of either ignorance or mischief.

    “In addition to 5G, we have opened up consultations on spectrum for drones, etc. We are proactively leading discussions on the deployment of new technologies and other infrastructures. ”

    The Executive Commissioner further said the NCC has licensed six infrastructural companies (Infracos) with roll out status to provide fibre optics for all the 774 local government councils in the country, saying this development would lead to improved quality of services and coverage of 200 remote villages across the country.

    “The fact is that about two years ago, NCC proactively identified about 200 remote communities which do not have coverage and began working with operators through the USPF to fill these gaps. What we are doing is trying to get these communities to leapfrog 2G networks and see how we can start them on broadband networks where economically feasible.

    “At that time, we said that the population of the communities is up to 35 million. The issue is that it is not as if these people have not seen phones, it is that they do not have regular coverage. And between now and then a lot of grounds have been covered, ” Mr Dare said.

  • NCC to fight cyber crooks, internet fraudsters

    THE Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday in Abakaliki said it was stepping up its fight against cyber crimes and internet fraudsters in the country.

    Its Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau (CAB), Mrs. Felicia Onwuegbuchulam,  who spoke in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital during 105th edition of consumer outreach programme of the Commission, expressed worry that the activities of these criminals were on the increase in the country with dire consequences on the populace.

    The outreach themee was: Mitigating Effects of Cybercrimes: The  Role of Telecom Consumers.

    According to her, many people have lost their lives, monies, personal identity and privacies to cyber criminals which has made the Commission to adopt measures to curtail their activities.

    Mrs Onwuegbuchulam said the Commission was partnering with security agents, National Security Adviser and other relevant stakeholders to tackle the menace.

    She said: “Cyber crime gives big concern to the commission; people lose their money, people lose their personal identity; people lose their privacies and in the process, they are either duped or even harmed or killed.

    “The war against cyber crime may not have been won but we are doing everything humanly possible to stem the tide, it is an ongoing thing. As they are coming up, you are dressing them and new ones are coming up.

     

  • Telcos tackle NCC over 95.7m ‘invalid’ SIMs

    Telecoms operators yesterday said the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) indicted itself over the huge number of Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards it adjudged invalid, almost 10 years after the exercise started across the country.

    Acting under the aegis of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), the carriers wondered why it took the regulator so long to raise the issue.

    Its Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, said the NCC came out with SIM card registration rules which the carriers adhered to during the exercise, adding that huge cash was also sunk on the project.

    Adebayo who spoke at Vanguard e-Economy Forum on Telecoms at the Civic Centre, Lagos, said the NCC would still need to do more explanations because “operators duly followed the procedures, standards and protocols handed to operators at the commencement of the exercise some eight years back.”

    The theme of the forum was Unlocking the Revenue and Growth Opportunities in the Telecoms Sector in a Changing Business Model and Digital Technology Environment.

    The regulator however said it was not true that 95.7million subscriber data was ‘invalid’ but was undergoing scrubbing, stressing that the issue needed further clarification for the benefit of subscribers and other critical stakeholders who rely on subscriber registration data.

    “The Commission wishes to clarify that the process of scrubbing registration data submitted by operators is an ongoing one and that so far, over 60million records have been “scrubbed” successfully. “Scrubbing” in telecoms parlance refers to the screening process of verifying biometric and personal information submitted by all operators in respect of each of their subscribers.

    “Although the figures quoted in the news reports were disclosed at a sensitisation workshop to illustrate the quality of initial data submissions, subsequent process enhancements by the NCC and operators have led to better quality submissions. The process is ongoing, and is constantly being reviewed for higher efficiency. NCC disclosed the outcome of its initial scrubbing exercise at the sensitisation workshop in order to underscore the need for subscriber registration agents and operators to ensure strict adherence to the Subscriber Registration Regulations of 2011 as well as the technical specifications for subscriber registration.

    “NCC however wishes to use this opportunity to encourage all subscribers to ensure that their details are properly captured in order to avoid unnecessary complications which may affect their banking, educational, health, travel and other pursuits which rely on proof of personal identity,” the regulator said in a statement.

    The Commission also urged operators to restructure their business model, so as to boost their revenue as stiff competition from Over The Top (OTT).

    The Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta gave the advice in his keynote address at the forum.

    Represented by the Head, Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Bako Wakil, Danbatta said presently, there were dynamics in the industry in terms of infrastructure investment and industry growth.

    “It is necessary for industry players such as telcos, vendors and Value Added Service (VAS) licensees to consider taking steps to change their business models in line with current and forecasted industry trends as may be required,”

  • NCC to prosecute institutions, schools that use pirated books

    The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) yesterday said it will prosecute institutions and schools that use pirated books.

    The commission said it would work with the Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA) to create safe corridors for the distribution of legitimate books.

    In a statement marking this year’s World Book and Copyright Day held every April 23, NCC’s Director-General John Asein said the fight against book piracy would be intensified.

    According to him, the commission will continue to develop policies and strategies to facilitate a culture of respect for authorship and copyright works.

    “We will step up our enforcement and prosecutorial activities to stem the tide of copyright infringements both off and online.

    “We will also reinvigorate our compliance checks in schools and other institutions of learning to sensitise them on the need to patronise only genuine copies of books through legitimate channels of distribution.

    “Henceforth, proprietors, heads of schools and authorities in charge will be held vicariously responsible for any pirated books distributed to pupils and students through their schools.

    “We shall also be taking appropriate steps under the law to sanction institutions found involved in mindless and unconscionable use and promotion of pirated books,” Asein said.

    The commission has embraced developments in the international copyright community to create a more inclusive culture of access to published works for blind and visually impaired persons.

    It noted that Nigeria, in October 2017, ratified the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled.

    “We have also gone ahead to make provision for the domestication of the treaty in the new Copyright Bill which was recently approved by the Federal Executive Council.

    “On a more practical note, the Commission, with help from the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and its Accessible Book Consortium, is collaborating with the Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB), the NPA, the Reproduction Rights Society of Nigeria (REPRONIG), and other key stakeholders to provide more books in accessible formats for blind and visually impaired persons in Nigeria,” Asein said.

     

  • NCC: pre-register SIM card, bag 25-year jail

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday threatened to charge people involved in subscriber identity module (SIM) card pre-registration with felony which carries 25 years imprisonment.

    It also said since the SIM registration exercise started in 2011, a total of 151,449,837 registration data of susbrcibers have been processed while only 55,749,652 records are valid. The remaining 63.2 per cent of the data is invalid because of invalid face capturing and fingerprints. This, it said, underscored the importance of proper SIM registration.

    The Commission warned that henceforth, any agent caught engaging in SIM cards pre-registration will  be arrested and charged to court. Culpability in such a case will cascade to other players in the SIM registration value chain including the super agents,  the Heads of Marketing of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and possibly the Chief Executives of licensees, who illegally benefit from such illegal SIM registration activities to meet their marketing targets.

    Its Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management,   Mr.  Sunday Dare, who gave the warning during the Southsouth regional sensitisation workshop on the dangers of fraudulently-activated SIM cards organised by the Commission in Port Harcourt,  Rivers State, said the right things must be done by the registration agents and their MNOs to curb the dangers posed by the menace.

    Represented by NCC Director,  Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement,  Mr. Efosa Idehen, the Executive Commissioner said the new moves follow eight years of contunuously fighting cases of fraudulently-registered or activated  SIM cards by the Commission starting from 2012, without appreciable compliance by the MNOs  and their different layers of registration agents across the country.

    Dare explained that aside several sanctions provided in the Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations  2011 for improperly-registered SIM cards per SIM cards,  penalty for violation,  imposition of N1 million on person found to be dealing with subscriber information in a manner inconsistent with the regulations, arrest and prosecution,  among others, which the Commission  has been enforcing,  the NCC will begin to plead national security and national interests against anybody found culpable of fraudulently-registered SIM cards.

    cate all players in the SIM registration value chain on the dangers posed by fraudulently-registered SIM cards to the country’s national security.

    “It is no longer going to be business as usual for all players in the SIM registration value chain.  We will no longer allow some deviants to jeopardise our national interest and national security.

    “Today, cases of fraudulently-registered SIM cards have been aiding and abeting robbery cases, kidnappings, financial frauds and all manners of criminalities where the anonymity of the registered subscribers makes criminal investigation difficult for the law enforcement agencies.

    “That is why we will now be pleading breach of national interest in the prosecution of arrested perpetrators of pre-registered SIM cards,” Idehen said.

  • How internet users can be protected from cybercrime, by NCC

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has stressed the need for the over 114 million internet users in the country to show interests in getting constant enlightenment to ensure proper protection against cybercrime.

    NCC Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Mrs. Felicia Onwuegbuchulam, in Lagos yesterday, spoke of the  need for awareness programmes where consumers were informed on the dangers of cybercrimes.

    Mrs. Onwuegbuchulam said that such programmes would ensure that internet users learnt and observed skills through which they could be protected while on the internet.

    In a statement, she said that the commission recently held the 47th edition of its monthly Consumer Town Hall Meeting (CTM) in Abia, where it discussed cyber space issues.

    According to her, cyber space covers everything consumers do online or with computing devices, including mobile phones, tablets and personal computers.

    She said: “The internet touches almost all aspects of human lives. There is, therefore, need for the consumers to show interests in getting constant enlightenment and be conscious of fraudulent tendencies by some internet users while online.

    “As at February this year, there are over 114 million internet users in the country, with over 63 million of them accessing broadband services on 3G and 4G networks.

    “The need to constantly educate is further underscored by the large numbers of Nigerians online, with even more to come online.

    “The commission is intensifying efforts towards implementing its various initiatives aimed at deepening connectivity across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria.

    “As access to internet increases, the dimension of cyber-criminal activities is also becoming more sophisticated.”

    The NCC director urged consumers to take the skills learnt through consumer engagement programmes very seriously and apply them, in order to be safe on the cyber space.

    Mrs. Onwuegbuchulam said that the liberalisation of the telecommunications industry in 2001 led to an unprecedented growth in the usage and dependence on internet-based solutions, services and applications.

    According to her, as the internet is being used for legitimate, positive engagements, some individuals also use it for criminal activities in the cyber space.

    She, however, said that aside the continuous monthly consumer enlightenment programmes, the commission had also initiated a process to establish an Internet Industry Code of Practice for Internet Service.

    The director said: “The Internet Code is a regulatory intervention that will help to secure the country’s cyber space against imminent threats from cyber attackers.

    “It will also address such issues as online child protection, privacy and data protection, contents, among others.’’

  • NCC, MTN collaborate on regulations

    The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and MTN Nigeria Communications Limited are collaborating to strengthen copyright regulations to ensure adequate reward for copyright owners and users across the country.

    The commission made this known after a consultative meeting with NCC’s Director-General (DG), Mr John Asein and a delegation of MTN, led by its General Manager, Commercial, Legal Corporate Services Division, Mrs Ifeoma Utah.

    Accompanied by MTN’s Manager, Regulatory Government, Mr Anas Galadima, and Legal Advisor, Mr Chukwukaelo Ajuluchukwu, Utah stated that MTN was interested in exploring a deal aimed at ensuring that the commission achieves its statutory mandates, especially in the implementation of regulations that would protect all stakeholders in the copyright system.

    While congratulating the DG on his appointment, she underscored that the collaboration of MTN with the commission would be on a long-term basis. She stressed the need for periodic Intellectual Property (IP) updates and awareness training for critical sectors, including the Bar and the Bench, assuring the commission of the firms collaboration in achieving results.

    According to a statement, signed by NCC Director, Public Affairs Department, Vincent Oyefeso, the DC underscored the commission’s commitment to promoting the policy of the Federal Government on the ease of doing business, especially to ensure sustainable growth and development of the creative industries.

    He added that the commission would create an environment conducive for all players in the copyright space to grow their business profitably within the ambit of the copyright law and regulations.

    To this end, he hinted that the commission was developing an institutional framework to provide alternative disputes resolution (ADR) services to stakeholders to engender a win-win situation for copyright owners and users.

    Asein informed that the Copyright Amendment Bill was drafted to bring about a more functional copyright regime, adding that the Bill has been sent to the National Assembly while the Commission is engaging with stakeholders to facilitate its passage.

    He stressed that the Commission was committed to midwifing a copyright system that empowers right owners and users, and called for dialogue and more opportunities to create awareness amongst right owners who must remain the primary beneficiaries in the copyright ecosystem.

    The DG noted that MTN as a  major player in the communications, social and creative sectors needed to expand its corporate social responsibility in order to promote and sustain the creative sector.

    He invited MTN to key into the programmes and activities of the commission, including its forthcoming 30th Anniversary.

  • Effective regulation key to convergence, say NCC, others

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and other stakeholders in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) industry have stressed the importance of effective regulations to drive the inevitable convergence in the ecosystem.

    The NCC, Backbone Connectivity Network (BCN), Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat), Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Rack Centre and others spoke at the 10th West African Convergence Conference organised by KNOWHOW Media & Market Intelligence Limited (KMI) at Lagos Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja.

    Speaking on: Regulations, Disruptions, employability, entrepreneurship and convergence, broadband plan, NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Prof Umar Danbatta, said convergence of IT telecom and media has become imperative in view of the new opportunities and threats that are being thrown up.

    Represented by NCC Head of Wireless Networks, Anthony Ikemefuna, the regulatory chief said industries were being disrupted, new industries were being created while new competencies and skill-sets were required.

    “The increasing convergence of the ICT and media industries is a trend that we’ll be watching as it has tremendous implications for the types of services that will be delivered, the ability to connect to new audiences, and even the types of networks built to power the new data-intensive customer demands,” he said.

    Dambatta said broadband connectivity and convergence would be difficult to achieve without effective regulation. “Regulations represent a powerful instrument to promote efficiency, but their impact depends on good implementation and effective compliance. NCC has over 12 enforceable regulations for the telecommunication industry and more are being developed to cater for emerging technologies in the sector,” he said.

    BCN CEO Ibrahim Dikko and Rack Centre Managing Director Tunde Coker said supporting local data ecosystem would depend on how much of broadband the environment can offer. Convergence of technologies and services is a function of the availability of broadband and right regulations to foster and not impede growth, they said.

    ATCON President, Olusola Teniola, stressed the need for collaboration between government and private sector players if the new timeline of 70 per cent broadband penetration by 2024 must be met. He agreed with Dikko and Coker that “broadband should be a privilege right’ since broadband is the key vehicle to drive all sorts of growth, including converged technologies and services in the 21st century.

    Head, Lagos Regional Business Office, NigComSat, Ibiye Ukoko, said with convergence, voice and data services are merging to belong to a single data stream, adding that a single device can handle calls, instant messages, stream television, photography email and many others.

    “Some services are becoming obsolete with convergence, however, a lot of other opportunities are open to those that can innovate in developing new applications,” she said.

    Ausso Leadership Academy (ALA ) founder, Mr Austin Okere, in his keynote presentation, said the future of work would be driven by technology. According to him, a lot of youths  prefer to be entrepreneurs because of the technology enablement.

    According to Okere, convergence will also change the face of the work place as many will work from home in silos as opposed to relating and meeting with their co-workers everyday.

    Qitech Technologies Chairman, Dr Sola Afolabi, said the education system and curricula must be tweaked to reflect the realities of convergence. According to him, while the role of the academia is to produce goods and services (workers and ideas), their products must meet the need of the industry which is now becoming converged.

    With special attention on broadband as the next frontier for Nigeria’s ICT development, participants said the government and stakeholders must see broadband as a right for all citizens and not just service.

    Dambatta said as at last February, broadband penetration hit 33.34 per cent, adding there is steady increase with the deployment of 4G networks.