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Tag: NCC

  • We’re taking steps to tackle cybercrime, kidnapping – NCC

    The Nigerian Communications Commission ( NCC ) said it has taken steps to reduce the rampant cases of cybercrime, internet fraud and other electronic frauds across the country.

    The Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta disclosed this in Kaduna on Thursday.

    He said that the Commission is also mopping up unregistered and improperly registered SIM cards across the country in a bid to reduce crimes such as kidnapping in parts of the country.

    Addressing the NCC Special Day at the 40th Kaduna International Trade Fair at the Trade Fair Complex along Kaduna – Zaria road on Thursday, Danbatta, who was represented by the NCC Head of Internal Policy Review Unit, Mr Okechukwu Aninweke, said NCC has found a solution to unsolicited text messages from networks providers, adding that customers can also through toll free line 622 call NCC to lodge complains.

    The NCC boss, who lamented rising documented cases of cybercrime and electronic fraud using telecommunications platforms, tasked all communication subscribers in the country to be rest assured that the Commission will do everything possible to address the challenge and bring it down.

    “Another challenge on the Commission’s front burner is the rising documented cases of cybercrime and e-fraud using telecommunications platforms. Cybercrime consist of illegal activities conducted on a computer or mobile device connected to the internet.

    Read Also: NCC resumes Do Not Disturb directive

    “The Commission advices all our customers not to open email that is unfamiliar and also note that banks will not request personal information over the internet. In the event that these unfortunate circumstances should take place, call your bank immediately to freeze the affected account. Secondly report to your service provider for further action to be taken in retrieving your number.

    “One of these challenges is unsolicited text messages. We have evolved a solution called Do-Not-Disturb, DND, in which consumers are being advised to send ‘STOP’ to a code ‘2442’ to stop all unsolicited text messages. There are also options that will enable you to stop particular types of messages when you send ‘Help to 2442’. We are again urging you to take advantage of this code.

    “We also urged our consumers about the availability of toll free telephone number 622 with which consumers can lodge complaints to the commission if their service providers refuse, or are unable to resolve such complaints when reported to them,” he said.

  • Why SIM card registration is stringent, by NCC

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said it reviewed and made the process of replacing lost, stolen or damaged Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards more stringent to safe subscribers from the antics of fraudsters.

    It made the clarification while addressing various service-related concerns and issues raised by telecoms consumers during a Consumer Conversation Programme (CCP) hosted by the Commission in Lafia, Nasarawa State at the weekend.

    Its Director, Zonal Operations Department, Mrs. Amina Shehu, said the Commission has found that, at times, a subscriber may be having issues with his or her phone number, thinking it was a network issue, but by the time he or she discovers what is happening, money has been fraudulently taken out of his or her bank account.

    Shehu, who was represented at the forum by a Principal Manager in the Zonal Operations, Mr. Ekisola Oladisun, said SIM swap or replacement fraud has a lot of issues attached to it because, often times, a lot of people who are not the owners of some of the numbers go to do SIM swap at various customer centres of the service providers.

    “There have been cases of fraudulent activities done on people’s bank accounts, as a result of SIM swap and the victims often complain to the Commission expecting that the NCC would compensate them.

    “To stop this SIM swap fraud, the Commission in 2017 developed ‘Guidelines on SIM Replacement’, which sets water-tight rules for telecoms consumers to replace their SIM card when there is a need for it. The Guidelines sets stringent conditions which require that consumers identify themselves properly before replacing lost SIM. This is to ensure that telecoms subscribers are well protected from being victims of SIM swap fraud,” she said.

    She said the Commission has noted that there is the likelihood by subscribers to think that network providers are putting them through stress to have their SIM replaced, by asking them to bring court affidavit, national identification card (or other valid IDs), SIM pack, amongst other requirements.

    “But what telecoms consumers should know is that they must appreciate the fact that all the information being required from them is to establish that anybody coming for SIM swap proves that the number that is being requested to be swapped belongs to him/her,” she said. She urged consumers to immediately report to their respective bank to block their accounts once they lose SIMs that linked with their bank accounts.

  • Ojobo seeks state of emergency in ICT

    The Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) and President, African ICT Foundation (AFICTF), Tony Ojobo, has urged African leaders to declare a state of emergency in the information communication technology (ICT) sector to accelerate digital development across the continent.

    Ojobo, a former Director of Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), spoke during the inauguration of the BoT of the foundation in Lagos, founded in 2009 to address Africa’s digital inclusion challenges.

    He unveiled a two-year digital inclusion development plan for the continent, targeting policy and infrastructure issues on Internet of Things (IoTs), Artificial Intelligence and Big Data.

    In his inaugural speech, he said Africa needed a declaration of emergency in  ICT development and innovation.

    According to him, in the next two years, the foundation will be involved in research and education by setting  policy agenda on technological innovations, ICT, trade and globalisation and clean energy.

    He said the Foundation will get Africa’s private sector support on critical industry issues that affect the growth of Africa’s economy while working with policymakers to develop and promote policies and ideas, capitalising on the tremendous economic and social benefits ICT provides for Africans.

  • NCC resumes Do Not Disturb directive

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it has resumed the direction to Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) on Do-Not-Disturb (DND), after a temporary suspension.

    The Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of the 87th Edition of the Telecom Consumer Parliament (TCP) on Monday in Lagos.

    The DND 2442 code gives subscribers the freedom to choose what messages to receive from the various networks.

    Danbatta said that the suspension was for a period of time which elapsed after the elections, hence, the need to resume implementation.

    ”The DND is back, the suspension was for a period of time, and it is to ensure that everyone without distinction of gender, ethnicity, or political persuasion, exercises their franchise, by voting.

    ”We do not want any Nigerian to be disenfranchised, that is why that measure was deliberately put in place, after reaching an understanding between INEC and NCC.

    ”It was put in place, it has worked very well, as I personally got a message from INEC, urging me to go out and exercise my franchise.

    ”’So that measure has served the purpose for which it was intended and now the DND is back,” he said.

    He said that the regulatory body would continue to strictly monitor the activities of the MNOs, on compliance to the directive.

    NAN reports that in February, NCC suspended its direction on DND in order to enable the MNOs disseminate specific information on voter education on behalf of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). (NAN)

  • Cybercrime: Emergency Response Team will soon be established – NCC

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that the National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) will soon be established, to curb cybercrime.

    The Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta made this known during the 87th Edition of the Telecom Consumer Parliament (TCP) on Monday in Lagos.

    The theme of the TCP is ”Challenges of Cybercrime: The Role of the Telecoms Service Providers”.

    Danbatta said that the provision of CERT was to ensure efficient response to security incidents within the cyberspace.

    He said that CERT was essential to monitor and deter threats that could exploit information system vulnerabilities.

    According to him, NCC must be in the forefront in ensuring that telecommunications networks are secure enough to ensure Nigerians who want to subscribe to the telecommunication services do so without any fear of their security or privacy being violated.

    ”CERT is not a team of human beings. It is a team of computers networked together, designed to checkmate incidences of cybersecurity on the telecommunications network.

    ”The lab that is going to be doing this is already set up, the equipment have been supplied, so what remains is just the configuration.

    ”The intention is to ensure that telecommunications network is secure, because in addition to all the benefits of the digital revolution, the post-Industrial Revolution we so much talk about, there is a risk dimension that results in the erosion of privacy and security,” he said.

    Danbatta said that there was the need for CERT, as the demand for high-speed internet in Nigeria, Africa and across the globe by telecommunications consumers was rapidly growing.

    He said that in today’s digital economy, the internet, and by extension broadband, was enabling people to carry out their personal and official activities in a more efficient and effective manner.

    Read also: Comply with regulations or face sanctions, NCC warns operators

    The EVC said that there were benefits and risks of the use of cyberspace and both had to be properly managed.

    He said that the telecommunications service providers operating in Nigeria would be expected, more than ever before, to strengthen their cyber-risk protection systems and architecture.

    According to him, the time has come for organisations and telecommunications service providers alike, to begin to use next-generation authentication as against the hitherto username-password authentication system.

    ”The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in a report, says the latter is vulnerable to hacking and all forms of cyber attacks.

    ”It is our belief that implementing these suggestions and more, will help telecommunications service providers and other Internet-dependent organisations in sustaining their activities in an increasingly-connected world.

    ”The suggestions will help in containing the menace of cybercrimes on their finances and reputation, on their employees and customers.

    ”The Mobile Network Operators also need to educate their consumers, regardless of their sizes and scopes of operations, and equip them with tips they need to get protected while using the internet on their networks,” he said.

    The Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, NCC, Mrs Felicia Onwuegbuchulam, said that the TCP provided high-level engagement and interactions with consumers, service provider, the regulator and other stakeholders in the telecommunications industry.

    Onwuegbuchulam said that the programme has become a veritable platform for addressing critical industry challenges affecting consumers and other stakeholders in the telecommunications value-chain in Nigeria.

    She said that the day’s Telecom Consumer Parliament brought to the front burner the problem of cybercrime, which was bedeviling the industry at the moment.

    According to her, it is common knowledge that access to high-speed internet or broadband is getting more pervasive and available to Nigerians to enable them achieve more efficiency in their daily activities.

    ”However, there are individuals called cyber criminals, cyber hackers or cyber fraudsters whose stock in trade is to deploy the internet, using all manner of decoys, to defraud genuine and unsuspecting internet users.

    ”The issue of cybercrime is a global phenomenon with levels of pervasiveness differing from country to country, and from region to region.

    ”It is also more pronounced in Nigeria, as it costs individuals and organisations financial losses, among other dangers it poses to victims.

    ”It is, therefore, our concern in NCC, to see that risks associated with the usage of internet by Nigerians are addressed and mitigated too,” she said. (NAN)

  • NCC to telcos: comply with regulations or face sanctions

    The Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC) yesterday warned all telecom companies in the country to embrace full and uncompromising compliance with all regulatory instruments, especially in the areas of quality of service, consumer protection and fair competition in the market.

    Its Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management, Mr Sunday Dare who  spoke during the Meet The Regulator Forum  at NCC Headquarters, Abuja, said the advice has become imperative to avoid sanctions and create a healthy relationship between the operator and the regulator.

    He said NCC is working on streamlining its processes to address concerns of operators on turnaround speed and other critical issues, but insisted that the regulator remained resolute on sound internal governance and strict adherence to the code of corporate governance in the industry.

    He said developments in the industry have placed more responsibility on the regulatory body to be up and doing in its assignments, noting that industrial players are expected to key into regulatory frameworks that would help move the industry forward.

    Dare said: “We are looking at the pervasive use of ICT in education, health and social services; the increasing digitalisation of manufacturing and other processes; the widespread use of Internet of Things (IoT) and other technologies, as well as the early rollout of 5G networks to drive these game-changers.

    “More importantly, the industry landscape is changing. Traditional models of delivering voice, data and infrastructure services are being threatened. Technology enables competing service models which work outside the scope of regulators and organisations are being challenged to “innovate or die”.

    “The point I wish to make is that the NCC is very clear that its role is to facilitate the successful operations of our licensees. We are also clear that the operator-regulator relationship is a symbiotic one which requires us to enable our licensees to succeed.

    “We are prepared to facilitate the speedier and more efficient availability of regulatory resources like spectrum, numbering, approvals, etc. We are working on streamlining our processes to address your concerns about turnaround speed. We shall also continue to impartially perform the responsibilities imposed on us by our role as independent regulator of the telecoms industry.

    “However, NCC prides itself as a fair, firm and forthright regulator. We are always here to listen to you and forge win-win solutions. But as we empower you to face future challenges we must insist on full and uncompromising compliance with all applicable regulatory instruments, particularly in the areas of quality of service, consumer protection, and fair competition in all relevant communications markets.

    “We will also insist on sound internal governance along the lines detailed in the Code of Corporate Governance for the industry. These are our minimum expectation, and I trust that we can continue to count on your co-operation in this regard.”

     

  • NCC to disburse N3b subsidy to InfraCos

    THE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)has concluded the process that will lead to the disbursement of subsidies to the six licensed Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos).

    Sources in the Commission said at the weekend about N3billion has been set aside for disbursement.

    This is part of the digital transformation agenda, which the regulator said it has put in place for actualisation, stressing that the subsidy will augment the InfraCos’ capital expenditure (capex).

    Its Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, who spoke when he received a delegation from the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, reiterated the Commission’s determination to make affordable and dependable broadband services ubiquitous.

    Led by its Acting Country Director, Mr. Thomas Hardy, the USTDA team was received by the NCC board members and its senior management team, including board Chairman, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, who urged the agency to work with the Commission to tackle the deployment challenges being faced by some InfraCo licensees in the Southsouth geo-political zone due to the riverine, swampy nature of the region.

    While providing updates on the Commission’s broadband infrastructure development project, especially the licensing of InfraCos each in the six geo-political zones and Lagos, which is carved as the seventh zone, Danbatta said the scheme has a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement with a subsidy component that is being worked out for the licensees to fast-track deployment in their respective zones.

    “The licensees are expected to play some roles and NCC too is to play some roles to encourage broadband infrastructure deployment by the licensees. Currently, we have seen the licensees’ capex, we have negotiated the capex and we have arrived at percentage of subsidies based on the negotiation that we have had with them. However, the subsidy will be paid to them by the Commission upon attainment of reasonable milestones by the licensees in their zones of deployment,” he said.

    The already licensed six InfraCos include MainOne Limited for Lagos Zone, Raeana Nigeria Limited for Southsouth Zone, O’dua Infraco Resources Limited for Southwest Zone, Fleek Networks Limited for Northwest Zone, Brinks Integrated Solutions for Northeast Zone, and Zinox Technologies Limited for the Southeast Zone while the remaining seventh licence for Northcentral Zone is being processed.

    Danbatta explained that the InfraCo idea is an initiative of the Commission designed to allow licensees deploy their infrastructure for a period spanning five years and providing wholesale services to other licensees to drive last-mile connectivity to people in the rural, under-served and un-served areas of the country.

    He said: “We are trying to build an intra-city and inter-city networks that will be able to connect citizens all over the country irrespective of where they are and what their circumstances are. To that extent, we have decided to provide access points in all the 774 local government areas in the country, trying to provide access to close to 190 million Nigerians, a lot of whom live in rural communities.”

    The EVC, however, emphasised that while the Commission is adopting fixed and wireless broadband approaches to its broadband infrastructure development, InfraCo model is open to the use of combination of terrestrial, sub-terrestrial and aerial fibre optic deployment options and the use of television white space (TVWS) spectrum to provide connectivity in rural areas.

    Hardy, who commended the NCC for achieving and surpassing the country’s broadband penetration target of 30 per cent last year, said the agency’s mission was to see areas where the agency can help to support the digital transformation goals of the country, by working with the NCC and other organisations “to open up opportunity for greater trade, greater economic development and closer bilateral cooperation”.

    “As a small foreign sister agency of US with a long-standing history in Nigeria, we support economic infrastructure projects; help in the telecoms, energy and transport sectors where countries have identified their priority development goals in the area of infrastructure development and through US companies, we develop an independent analysis of ways to meet your infrastructure goals,” he added.

  • How to beat cyber criminals, by NCC

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has begun sensitisation programme for telecommunication consumers in Ekiti State on safety measures against cyber theft.

    The Commission said the hydra-headed problem of cyber theft had wreaked havoc on many Nigerians, making them lost valuable property and money to fraudsters, who used Information and Communication Telecommunication infrastructures to defraud innocent citizens.

    Speaking in Ado Ekiti on Thursday during the 104th Consumer outreach programme, Jide Azeez of the Consumer Advocacy Group of NCC, urged consumers to be cautious of information they divulge to people on social media and other ICT platforms.

    The stakeholders programme was attended by traditional rulers, students, youth groups, faith-based groups, artisans, market men and women as well as civil servants.

    While speaking on the theme: mitigating effects of cybercrime: role of telecom users, Azeez disclosed there was need for consumers to avoid unnecessary discussion with unknown individuals on social media platforms.

    This, he said, is the best way to fall into the traps and net of the fraudsters.

    He added that many Nigerians have lost their lives as a result of trauma caused them by ICT fraudsters, saying consumers must protect their personal data from being stolen by ICT theft.

    “These fraudsters attack consumers on social media, website where consumers carry out financial transactions by using credit/debit cards. Our mobile devices and computers are the targets of yahoo boys.

    “So, users must be aware that this fraud and attacks can emanate from any part of the world as long as the devices are connected to the global super highway known as internet.

    “So, we must take precautions on our SIM cards, by not using preregistered cards .

    “Follow guidelines on SIM replacement and where you lose your phone, or SIM quickly contact your bank to stop transactions on the account”, he advised.

    Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, MTS Felicia Onwuegbuchulam, said the programme was packaged by NCC to sensitise and conscientise telecommunication users on how best to protect their lives.

    The Director, who was represented by Deputy Director in the Department, Ismail Adedigba, said the NCC will continue to take actions that would protect the rights and lives of consumers.

    “It is our belief that without consumers becoming aware if cybercrime trends and making efforts to ensure safe use of connected devices, cyber criminals will continue to make ICT space unsafe.

    “We are concerned about curtailing the activities of dishonest people who are bent on using ICT for illegal businesses and this awareness campaign is part of that strides to make consumers enjoy the fruits if their labour,” she said.

    She added the sensitisation programmes will help to reduce telecommunication consumers’ exposure to the antics of cyber criminals.

  • NCC sees 70% broadband penetration in five years

    Nigeria’s telecoms industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said with the achievment of 33 per cent broadband penetration now in the country, it is realistic to increase the penetration to 70 per cent over the next five years.

    Its Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta who spoke while receiving a delegation from Bharti Airtel Group, led by the Chief Executive Officer Airtel Africa, Mandara Raghunath, in his office in Abuja, said the country exceeded the 30 per cent threshold set by the National Broadband Plan last year December.

    Read also: MultiChoice Talent Factory networking portal goes live

    Danbatta expressed optimism that the country can achieve 70 per cent broadband penetration milestone in the next five years, even though a new national target of the penetration has not been made public yet.

    He said: “We exceeded expectation of Nigeria as the broadband penetration was 31 per cent as at December last year. The good news is that we are steadily seeing increase in the penetration.

  • NCC tackles Google over free Wi-Fi

    Investigations by the Nation revealed that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the regulatory body for telecommunications in the country, has reported global internet giant, Google, to the Federal Government for evading regulatory oversight in its bid to expand its ‘free’ Wi-Fi deployment in Nigeria.

    Google is currently rolling out the ‘free’ Wi-Fi service in Lagos and Abuja with plans to expand to other locations in the country, a development that has caused great concerns in the industry because of the threat to the investment made by existing telecoms operators and privacy issues occasioned by the internet giant’s mode of operation.

    A letter from NCC to the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) under the Office of the Vice President, sighted by our correspondent, indicated that Google may be illegally providing its ‘free’ Wi-Fi in the country under obscure conditions that put it beyond regulatory purview.

    The letter, signed on behalf of NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman by the Executive Commissioner (Stakeholder Management), Mr. Sunday Dare, reported to the Office of the Vice President (PEBEC) that “Google is operating in Nigeria without being licensed by the Commission with the implications that it does not pay applicable fees, levies and taxes that are paid by other players in the telecommunications sector.”

    It further revealed that “There are several other irregularities in the structure under which Google presently provides its free public Wi-Fi for which the Commission requested it to provide information that will clarify certain issues that have cropped up in the course of trying to streamline its usage of Short Message Service (SMS) for user authentication.

    “Google has till date failed to provide the requested information, which has stalled efforts to resolve the issues,” the letter noted.

    Other shortcomings the Commission reported to PEBEC included Google’s failure to pay its Nigerian partners that it had presented as licensees of NCC and dealing with companies illegally providing SMS services.

    Internationally, Google has come under scrutiny over privacy issues and the way it handles the user data collected through its Android mobile operating system, an array of applications and more recently its ‘free’ Wi-Fi.