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Tag: NCC

  • NCC: 2G most pervasive technology in Nigeria

    THE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said the second generation (2G) technology is dominant in the country.

    The regulatory declaration is coming at a time mobile network operators (MNOs) in the country are boasting 3G and 4G long term evolution (LTE) service to their subscribers.

    NCC Executive Vice Chairman/CEO,  Prof Garba Dambatta, who spoke in Lagos at the weekend, said 2G technology accounts for 90 per cent of total coverage in the country.

    In his key note address at the fourth Quarter Seminar of  Nigerian Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) with the theme: Achieving Last-Mile Connectivity through Broadband, Dambatta said the Commission was working hard to get every nook and cranny of the country connected.

    He said: “Generally, the most pervasive networks are on 2G coverage and reaches about 90 per cent of the population, while the 3G or 4G coverage is still low while some sections of the country still has  little or no coverage at all.”

    Represented by the Deputy Director/Head, Special Intervention Projects, Dr Henry Nkemadu, the NCC chief said the “last mile” or “last kilometer” is a phrase widely used in the telecoms, cable television and internet industries to refer to the final leg of the telecoms networks that deliver telecoms services to retail end-users (customers).

    He said more specifically, the last mile refers to the portion of the telecoms network chain that physically reaches the end-user’s premises, adding that examples could be found in  copper wire telephones to the local telephone exchange; coaxial cable service drops carrying cable television signals from utility poles to subscribers’ homes and cell towers linking local cell phones to the cellular network.

    He said another example is fixed wireless access, where a wireless network is used instead of wires to connect a stationary terminal to the wireline network.

    Dambatta said: “Various solutions are being developed which are seen as an alternative to the last mile of standard incumbent local exchange carriers. These include WiMax and broadband over power lines. Today, we have an appreciable number of submarine cables landing in Nigeria, delivering a capacity of about 9 Terabits to the country, but mainly limited to landing points in the Lagos areas and some coastal states (Ondo, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa).

    “The Commission has been making efforts to enable the companies extend this massive capacity inland through various regulatory instruments and interventions to drive down costs and for security reasons.”

    He said many of the MNOs have islands of cables interconnected in areas of high traffic such as Lagos with multiple fibre cable coverage, leaving other regions with lack of coverage. “This poor network planning therefore, contributes to poor last mile connectivity in Nigeria,” he said.

    On the  Commission’s focus  on  broadband, he said it understood that the core of robust and reliable telecoms service is broadband infrastructure, which provides the needed impetus to achieve last mile connectivity.

    He said: “Our commitment to achieve the three ‘A’s of Availability, Accessibility and Affordability is hinged on broadband deployment across the country.  Facilitation of Broadband penetration is the number one item and flagship of our 8-point Agenda. The potential in broadband penetration is enormous, which explains why the entire global community is investing huge resources to exploit and assimilate broadband that is expected to guide global economic index of development in the future.

  • NCC: subscriber complaints mount

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is inundated with complaints by subscribers across the country.

    It said as a strong believer in the protection of the consumers, it would not rest on its oars to ensure that customers got the right deal.

    Its Deputy Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Ismail Adedigba, who spoke during a Town Hall meeting organised by the Commission in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, said complaints bordering on unsolicited text messages and calls; failure/refusal to roll over unused data at the expiration of data bundle by service providers; and automatic renewal of data services upon expiration and activation/subscription to data and value added services (VAS) without prior consent of the subscribers and others have increased.

    He added that call masking/refiling has joined the list too.

    Adedigba said in response to these complaints, the Commission, as consumer-centric institution, has taken appropriate steps to tackle the problems.

    Steps taken so far, he explained, are in the development of 2442 DND Short Code to solve unsolicited text messages/calls; issuance of Direction to telcos on data roll- over which now enables consumers to roll over unused data for period of time, ranging from one day to seven days, depending on data plan. This took effect from June 26, 2018.

    Another is the issuance of Direction to Service Providers on forceful subscription of data services and Value Added Services (VAS) which directs telcos to desist from forceful/automatic renewal of data services without prior consent of subscribers. This has taken effect from  May 21, 2018.

    He said: “The Commission also developed 622 Toll-Free Line through which you can easily lodge complaints for any unresolved service issue to the NCC. The failure of operators to comply with the directives attracts appropriate penalties and sanctions.

    “With respect to Call Masking/Refiling, the Commission is working seriously to abate the menace of this ugly development including deployment of appropriate technology as a strategy to combat it. Specifically, some of the measures being taken by the commission include working on the issuance of Direction to MNOs to explore every technical means not to allow their networks to be used for call masking and SIM boxing activities; creating awareness on call masking through different social platforms and via our various outreach programmes to educate consumers and encourage them to report cases of call masking to the Commission for investigation and necessary enforcement actions; embarking on continuous compliance, monitoring and enforcement activities to detect victims of call masking and investigate channels used to commit the illegality.”

    Also, he said the commission is in the process of choosing the best from a list of technology solutions used in other countries, to block the devices, track and apprehend the culprits while it works to tighten Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) registration processes across all networks to reduce the availability of SIMs for SIM-boxing as well as address the security issues around the availability of pre-registered or fraudulently-registered SIMs.

  • NCC plans new tax framework for telecoms

    The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) is to work out a new tax framework for the telecoms industry.

    NCC Executive Commissioner , Sunday Dare, who disclosed this in a stakeholders  forum held in Kano.

    Speaking on the theme: Optimising the Benefits of Telecom Infrastructure in Nigeria, he  said the new plan will be presented to the National Economic  Council for adoption by all state Governors. Dare, represented by the Deputy Director,  Compliance Monitoring NCC, Alhaji Alkassim Umar, noted that the policy should be applied in their respective states for effectiveness and efficiency.

    “We are aware that this effort may require the amendment of the taxes and levies (approved list for collection) Act (amendment order of 2015, and I assure you that the NCC will lead the charge to see that this is done within the shortest possible time.”

    According to him, the  NCC has designed this engagement to achieve three primary objectives, among which include to reemphasis the immense benefit of ensuring the seamless operations of critical national Telecoms infrastructure, necessary to power growth across all sectors of the economy.

    “We want to better understand the peculiar issues that state MDAs’ are experiencing in their interface, with Telecoms operators and how to resolve these  issues in a mutually beneficial manner, so that all stake holders will agree on a clear and actionable work plan for speeding up the deployment of critical Telecoms infrastructure and protecting those already deployed”

    Furthermore, Dare stated that, “as we all know, telecoms infrastructure – and the ICT platforms, not only empower but are enablers of innovation and efficiency. They depend on opportunities to create jobs, improve productivity, as well as to create an enabling environment for the growth, ostensibly to stimulate economic growth to improve the Security and lives and property of the citizenry.”

  • NCC reviews telecoms customer SLAs

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has started the review of its customer Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for the resolution of consumer complaints and escalations to telcos. This measure is designed to ensure faster and more effective resolution of consumer complaints in the telecoms industry and improve overall consumer experience on all telecoms networks.

    The review will be carried out by a joint NCC-Industry Working Committee which the Commission has set up so as to ensure robust stakeholder participation in the exercise in furtherance of its consultative approach to rule-making.

    Speaking during the inauguration of the NCC component of Working Committee, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management (ECSM) of NCC, Mr. Sunday Dare, re-emphasised NCC’s uncompromising commitment to ensuring superior consumer experience on all telecoms platforms. He said as a consumer-centric regulator, the NCC believes that effective and timely resolution of consumer complaints as fundamental elements of consumer protection. He said these are also fundamental statutory obligations of the NCC as detailed in Sections 4 and 105 of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA), 2003; the Quality of Service Regulations 2013, the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations, 2007 and other similar instruments. He therefore urged the Committee to ensure that the reviewed SLAs entrenched the Commission’s consumer-centric focus, whilst also taking due cognisance of the relevant ecosystem, technology and other factors affecting QoS.

    The NCC had met with service providers and Association of Licensed Telcoms Companies of Nigeria (ALTON) in Lagos on  September 26, 2018 to discuss ways of enhancing the speed and quality of complaints resolution. At that meeting, NCC expressed strong displeasure about delays in complaints resolution, while operators pointed to the need to review some of the SLAs to reflect developments in technology and other factors impacting performance. The meeting therefore resolved to establish a joint NCC-industry Working Committee to study the matter and make recommendations which the NCC will take into consideration in setting out new complaints resolution SLAs for the industry.

     

  • Nigeria’s VAS market worth N79bn — NCC

     

    The Value Added Service (VAS) market is valued at N79billion ($220 million), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has disclosed.

    The commission’s Director of Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement, Mr Efosa Idehen, made this known during the 2nd Value Added Service (VAS) Stakeholders Forum on Tuesday in Lagos.

    Idehen said that VAS was an important component of the Nigerian telecommunications ecosystem necessary for optimising the benefits of telecommunication services to consumers.

    He added that VAS was non-core service beyond standard voice calls, SMS and data products.

    According to him, VAS enables mobile network operators to develop additional revenue streams and can be used in any service industry for services available at little or no cost to promote their primary business

    “The Nigeria VAS market, which is presently valued at about N79 billion ($220 million) is estimated to grow to about $500 million in 2021.

    “The recent reform the commission embarks on in the VAS segment of the market is a further recognition of significant role of VAS in the entire telecommunications ecosystem,” he said.

    The director said that like every service, there were both positive and negative impact of VAS on consumers but the positives far outweighed the negatives.

    He said that the commission therefore deemed it fit to find a balance between enabling the opportunities that the VAS providers offered to consumers while at the same time mitigating the challenges or inconvenience they could constitute to other consumers.

    According to him, in finding a balance, service providers are licensed by the commission and are allowed to operate and provide value added services to consumers.

    He added that “consumers are empowered through the Do Not Disturb (DND) facility to choose whether to allow or block access to these services on a full or partial basis.

    ”Consumers have been at the receiving end of unsolicited messages, fraudulent deduction of consumers’ credit for VAS not subscribed for, among others.

    ”And subscribers are asking if what the telecommunications companies and their third parties are adding is ‘value’ or ‘pain’ services,” he said.

    Idehen said that with that in mind, NCC introduced the DND number 2442, which empowered consumers to block all unsolicited messages and VAS services.

    He said that the commission issued a direction requesting that network providers should ensure that information on the DND service be disseminated after every revenue generating activity via the End of Call Notification (EOCN).

    The director said that the EOCN would run for the period not less than 45 days and within the hours of 8am to 8pm daily from the receipt of the latest letter on the subject.

    He said that the operators were also admonished to deploy this information through all their channels of communications.

    The channels of communications include websites, social media platforms, bill boards, flash messages, text messages, Interactive Voice Response platform, radio jingles, newspapers advertisements and television commercials.

     

  • NCC: 2G most pervasive technology in Nigeria

    THE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said the second generation (2G) technology is dominant in the country.

    The regulatory declaration is coming at a time mobile network operators (MNOs) in the country are boasting 3G and 4G long term evolution (LTE) service to their subscribers.

    NCC Executive Vice Chairman/CEO,  Prof Garba Dambatta, who spoke in Lagos at the weekend, said 2G technology accounts for 90 per cent of total coverage in the country.

    In his key note address at the fourth Quarter Seminar of  Nigerian Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) with the theme: Achieving Last-Mile Connectivity through Broadband, Dambatta said the Commission was working hard to get every nook and cranny of the country connected.

    He said: “Generally, the most pervasive networks are on 2G coverage and reaches about 90 per cent of the population, while the 3G or 4G coverage is still low while some sections of the country still has  little or no coverage at all.”

    Represented by the Deputy Director/Head, Special Intervention Projects, Dr Henry Nkemadu, the NCC chief said the “last mile” or “last kilometer” is a phrase widely used in the telecoms, cable television and internet industries to refer to the final leg of the telecoms networks that deliver telecoms services to retail end-users (customers).

    He said more specifically, the last mile refers to the portion of the telecoms network chain that physically reaches the end-user’s premises, adding that examples could be found in  copper wire telephones to the local telephone exchange; coaxial cable service drops carrying cable television signals from utility poles to subscribers’ homes and cell towers linking local cell phones to the cellular network.

    He said another example is fixed wireless access, where a wireless network is used instead of wires to connect a stationary terminal to the wireline network.

    Dambatta said: “Various solutions are being developed which are seen as an alternative to the last mile of standard incumbent local exchange carriers. These include WiMax and broadband over power lines. Today, we have an appreciable number of submarine cables landing in Nigeria, delivering a capacity of about 9 Terabits to the country, but mainly limited to landing points in the Lagos areas and some coastal states (Ondo, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa).

    “The Commission has been making efforts to enable the companies extend this massive capacity inland through various regulatory instruments and interventions to drive down costs and for security reasons.”

    He said many of the MNOs have islands of cables interconnected in areas of high traffic such as Lagos with multiple fibre cable coverage, leaving other regions with lack of coverage. “This poor network planning therefore, contributes to poor last mile connectivity in Nigeria,” he said.

    On the  Commission’s focus  on  broadband, he said it understood that the core of robust and reliable telecoms service is broadband infrastructure, which provides the needed impetus to achieve last mile connectivity.

    He said: “Our commitment to achieve the three ‘A’s of Availability, Accessibility and Affordability is hinged on broadband deployment across the country.  Facilitation of Broadband penetration is the number one item and flagship of our 8-point Agenda. The potential in broadband penetration is enormous, which explains why the entire global community is investing huge resources to exploit and assimilate broadband that is expected to guide global economic index of development in the future.

    “A major milestone was achieved recently with the licensing of four infrastructure service providers (InfraCos ) to provide broadband infrastructure. These companies were licensed for broadband infrastructure provisioning in the different regions. Zinox Technology Limited for  Southeast Zone, Brinks Integrated Solutions Limited for Northeast Zone, O’odua Infraco Resource Limited for the Southwest and Raeanna Technologies Limited for the Southsouth. The Commission had earlier licenced two  InfrasCos  for Lagos in the Southwest and Northcentral regions, which are Infrastructure Company Limited (a subsidiary of MainOne Cable Company Limited) and IHS Limited.”

  • NCC: telecoms, ICT boost GDP with N4.7trl

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said total contribution of the telecoms and information communication technology (ICT) sectors to the economy grew to N4.7trillion. It added that in the third quarter of this year alone, the sectors added N1.5 trillion.

    Its Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, said the development represented a significant milestone for the industry as it means that the quality of services would improve across the country, adding that the country has also achieved 30.9 per cent broadband penetration to service the country’s telecom industry.

    According to him, active voice subscription has also grown from 165.2 million in October 2018 to 169.1million in November 2018.

    Represented by the NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management, Mr Sunday Dare during an interactive session with reporters at Ibeto Hotel, Abuja, he said internet subscription grew from 107.5 million in October to 108.9 million in November 2018 , while total active broadband subscription on 3G and 4G platforms as at November 2018 is now 58,965,478.

    “Contributions of Telecommunications and Information Services to GDP from Q1 – Q3 2018 was N4.7 trillion naira according to figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics. In the last quarter (Q3, 2018) the amount stood at N1.5 trillion, according to Q3 figures reported by the NBS,” the EVC said.

    He added that the telecommunications and information services sector also grew by 14.7 per cent from Q1, 2017 – Q3, 2018.

    Speaking earlier at the 86th Edition of Telecom Consumer Parliament (TCP), at the Shehu Masa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, Prof Danbatta said about nine persons have been arrested in a sting operation involving security agencies in Lagos for activities bordering on Call Masking/Refilling, while their devises were impounded.

    He added that those arrested have been handed over to the police for investigation and prosecution.

    The NCC chief said it is estimated that over $60 billion is being lost annually to the problems of Call Masking at the global level, he asserted that the good news is that the commission has been able to obtain the technology to track down the criminal act.

    He noted that the step taken by the NCC to address the problem has precipitated a reduction of about 34 per cent of the menace across the country.

    Danbatta said: “After the 85th Edition in Lagos, the Commission, in its wisdom and based on suggestions from participants, decided to treat the same topic at the 4th Quarter Edition of the Parliament holding here today. This is to essentially underscore the seriousness of the Commission in combating any instances of ‘communication fraud’ such as call masking/refiling in the industry.

     

     

  • Mobile phone users hit 120million, says NCC

     

     

    Nigeria’s telephone subscription base has risen to 120million, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta has disclosed.

    He said the number of internet subscribers also increased from 107.5million in October to 108million in November.

    Danbatta spoke on Thursday at a session with media chiefs in Abuja.

    According to him: “As at November, we have about 59million who have subscribed to broadband service.

    “Also, as  at November 2018, broadband penetration is 30.9% point. We have exceeded the target by 0.9%.

    “Active Voice Subscriber base grew from 165, 239, 443 in October 2018 to 169, 104, 830 in November 2018.

    “Internet subscription grew from 107, 547, 723 in October 2018 to 108, 897, 679 in November 2018.

    “Total Active Broadband Subscription on 3G and 4G platforms as at November 2018 was 58,965,478.”

    The NCC chief added: “The telecommunication sector has impacted on the economy. The contributions of telecommunications and information services to GDP from Q1 –Q3 2018 was N4,725, 563.10 trillion according to figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics.

    “In the last quarter(Q3, 2018), the amount  stood at N1, 517,102.16 trillion, according to Q3 figures by the NBS. Telecommunications and Information Services Sector grew by 14.7% from Q1, 2017-Q3, 2018.”

    On investments in the telecoms sector, Danbatta said: “They have grown from a mere $50million in 2001 to over $70billion as at September 2017.

    “We intervened in the 9mobile crisis to save the investments of its owners, protect over 2000 jobs and safeguard over 20million subscribers on that network.”

     

     

     

     

  • Nigeria telecommunication industry worth $67bn – NCC

    The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has revealed that the nation’s telecommunication industry is worth about $67 billion, according to Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta.

    He said this during his speech at the Nigeria Public Sector Branding Summit 2018 which took place in Abuja on Tuesday, hosted by the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), and themed ‘Branding approach: A Tool for Enhancing Public Sector Objectives’.

    According to Danbatta, who was represented by NCC’s Senior Manager, Information and Reference Beluchi Nwanisobi, the private-sector driven industry has over 162m lines that are connected across the land.

    “Internet connection which used to be a nightmare has largely improved, and is now available on mobile terminals, making it possible for Nigerians to do banking and shop on the go, among other advantageous deliverables,” she spoke.

    “The NCC is a parastatal of government. But from all indications, it is not just an ordinary parastatal anymore; it is growing into a mega institution that is beginning to build the quality of a national treasure.

    “I am excited when people say, your organization doesn’t function like other government agencies.

    “I am thrilled by the number of applications that come in daily, of young men and women who want to seek a career in the organization, not just because there is a challenge in job placements but more specifically to help them build their lives.

    “What people see from outside takes some level of consistency, some level of boldness to resist threats from the various stakeholders, and above all, a strength of character to hold the internal stakeholders together and ensure that communications are right, with everybody heading to the same direction to achieve the clear vision of the Commission.”

    Also speaking at the occasion, the Director General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Mr. Dasuki Arabi, represented by the Director of Finance and Accounts, BPSR Wayagari Gulak, highlighted the importance of the summit, which he said is to act on the “mandate of conducting research on implementation efforts and present ‘best practice’ models’ in understanding the process of obtaining tax clearance, international passport, driver’s licence and national identity card through process mapping and/or process re-engineering.”

    The Summit aimed at proffering solutions to common Governance Constraints  to service delivery in four government services: the process of obtaining an International Passport from the Nigerian Immigration Service, Tax Clearance Certificate from the Federal Inland Revenue Service, National Identity Card from the National Identity Management Commission, and Driver’s Licence from the Federal Road Safety Commission and Vehicle Investigation Office (VIO).

  • NCC: Nigeria’s ICT industry mid-way in global evolution

    THE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said the nation’s information communications technology (ICT) industry is in the middle of a global evolution.

    It, therefore, urged operators to sail with the wind lest they be left behind in the scheme of things.

    Its Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Mr Sunday Dare , who spoke in Lagos during Industry Consumer Advisory Forum (ICAF) Quarter’ 5 Open Forum, said  global evolution continuously challenges old ways of doing things.

    He said: “Hitherto disruptive innovations are now being brought into the mainstream. The emerging digital  age hardly respects geographical barriers or regulatory jurisdictions the global players leveraging on the telecoms networks to help people communicate are not even licencees of the NCC! (I refer to the so-called OTT players such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and others).

    “From trying to deploy basic 2G services throughout Nigeria just a few years ago, we are now talking about achieving the penetration of superfast 4G/LTE networks nationwide.

    “From getting basic voice telephony into the hinterlands just a few years ago, we are now talking about using artificial intelligence and machine learning to design and deploy services.

    “We are now talking about data harvesting, cloud processing, and exploitation of data across borders. We are talking of borderless connectivity, which is changing the method of service delivery across all sectors of human endeavour.”

    According to Mr Dare, in the new era, customer service level agrrments (SLAs) mean little if the attitudinal and behavioural loyalty, which ensure that consumers are confident to embrace technology to tap into the life-changing opportunities are absent.

    “These are opportunities, which will guarantee that our country develops and that our youth are able to compete with their peers throughout the world. So, we must ensure that the service delivery framework encourage their use, rather than pursue reactive policies.

    “In other words, the challenge before us now, that is, “the challenge of consumer experience”, is to ensure that we proactively remove all impediments to technology adoption, that we identify lCT pain points even before they occur, and that  we address them before they become an issue,” he said, adding that all  these  must be done so that the citizens can enjoy faster, safer and more productive use of new technologies and service delivery models. This is the totality of consumer experience.

    “I know this is a big challenge, even for an advisory body like lCAF, but I am confident in the capacity of the lCAF membership to deliver,” he said.

    He expressed delight that “Progressing from Customer Service to Customer Experience the Consumer’s Point of View’ was chosen as theme for the forum.

    Dare said over the years,  the industry has focused efforts on improving customer service. To achieve this objective, he said the Commission had rolled out several customer-centric initiatives such as setting QoS KPls for all consumer interactions and particularly for the resolution of consumer complaints and escalations; and imposing obligations to eliminate unsolicited SMS our “2442/DND” platform is a reference point.

    Others are frontally tackling issues of call masking, “forced” VAS and data subscriptions; mandating operators to establish customer services centers in all state capitals and major towns  so that  customers can have easy access to their network providers; mandating licencees to issue “trouble tickets” which enable the tracking of all complaints to determine whether they are resolved within SLAs.

    Setting up second-level fault resolution mechanisms such that consumers, who do not get satisfactory redress can escalate to NCC by just dialing 622 or using our other free channels, was also one of the steps taken by the regulator.

    “While l am pleased to note that these efforts have continued to achieve high levels of success, it is clear that the Nigerian communications industry has reached a level of maturity both in terms of adoption, competitiveness and technology deployments. This means that our focus must change to accommodate new realities.

    “At our industry’s current level of growth, our focus must change from merely providing good customer service to assuring superior customer experience. Some may wonder, what is the difference between “customer service” and “Customer Experience”.

    “Indeed, smart service providers do not need to be told that sound “customer experience” has a differentiating factor, which guarantees them competitive advantage, so why is this an issue for the NCC?”