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Tag: NCC

  • NCC assures academia of partnership for industry growth

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said it would collaborate with the academic community to sustain the growth in the telecoms sector for the overall development of Nigeria.

    Its Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta gave the assurance at Bayero University Kano (BUK),  while addressing stakeholders during a two-day roundtable with members of the Academia from the Northwest zone of the country.

    The CEO said over the years, the telecoms industry had witnessed exponential growth and has become imperative to sustain the growth through research for innovations and development of technology.

    Dambatta who was represented by the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Eng. Ubale Maska, said: “To sustain the standard of living of an ever-increasing Nigerian population, a strategy for continual development in telecoms, technology needs to be given attention and timely research in that area be conducted by the academia that will result in minimal impact on the environment.

  • NCC seeks interconnectivity among data centres for e-health

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has urged all data centres in the country to a central data centre domiciled at the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for the promotion of electronic or e-health.

    It strongly believes the country would in the near future, join the league of nations where e-health thrives.

    Its Executive Vice-Chairman, Prof Garba Danbatta, who spoke while receiving a delegation of the University of Abuja, Teaching Hospital, led by its Board Chairman, Dr Sam Jaja, and the Chief Medical Director, Prof Bisallah Ahmed Ekele, who paid a courtesy call at the headquarters of the Commission in Abuja, said the world is moving towards digital transformation age.

    He said: “We are moving gradually towards what I call, the digital transformation of the country, and this, you can do stage by stage. A time will come when everything will be online. If you want the record of a patient referred to you from a different hospital, you just do it with a press of a button and you have the patient’s history.

    “And a patient travelling abroad for medical reason may not have the need to carry the hard copy of his medical history with him. These are all parts of the global e-health architecture that we hope to put in place in the not- too -distant future.”

    He added that ICT could be leveraged to ensure computerisation of records and fast-tracking diagnosis and treatment in the nation’s hospitals.

    “Our intervention in university inter-campus connectivity project has made distance a non-issue by providing you with high speed and reliable high-speed connectivity that will facilitate communication between your campuses.

    “And we see the university teaching hospital as an important component of this project. And then there’s a data centre and facility that will enable you to capture the data of the most important things you are doing, including serving as a repository of student records, academic records, medical records and all kinds of records, which will be difficult to keep in hard copy form. We decided that universities like Unibuja will require data centres that will ensure a reliable source of keeping data, which is retrievable at a press of a button, he said.

    Earlier, Dr Jaja had praised the EVC and the NCC for the significant interventions in the hospital.

    Also speaking on the occasion, Prof Ekele, told the EVC that the NCC’s intervention was the first major assistance the medical institution had received in its 25-year history.

  • NCC: 9mobile’s $100m debt news false

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday dismissed as untrue reports that the take over of 9Mobile by Teleology Holdings Limited, its preferred bidder was being delayed by the telco’s $100million outstanding debts.

    The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta who spoke to reporters  on the sideline at the Second Stakeholders Forum with the Academia at the Transcorp Hotel, Abuja, said there was truth in the report.

    He said while he took questions from reporters in Durban, South Africa during the recently concluded Intenational Telecommunications Union (ITU) Conference, that he did not allude to any debt profile regarding 9mobile.

    On the necessity for a strong synergy between the NCC, the Academia and  telcos, Prof Danbatta said the stakeholders forum was organised to discuss matters that are germane to the development of the telecoms industry in the country.

    He added that the topic for this year’s forum: Academia, Accelerator for Innovation, Industry Growth and Sustainability, was in line with ITU vision for ICT related fields globally.

    He said: ” At this same venue last year, we promised an encore, a continuity of the stakeholders forum with Academia which we hope will continue to provide us the platform to engage each other on how the academia can be more involved with the telecoms industry, develop more tangible relationships with the operators, while seeking opportunities to be more engaged in the activities of the sector and contribute to produce the much needed manpower.”

  • NCC intervenes in CBN’s cash refund order to MTN

    There is hope for a truce in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)-MTN Nigeria face-off.

    Telecoms sector regulator Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is to broker peace between the two.

    The CBN has ordered the mobile giant to refund $8.1billion allegedly  repatriated from the country.

    Besides, the Attorney General of the Federation has demanded the payment of $2billion alleged to be unpaid taxes over a 10-year period, allegations the telco has consistently rejected.

    MTN Nigeria claimed that due process was followed in the transaction concerning Certificate of Capital Importation (CCI),  insisting that it has remained a good corporate citizen by paying its taxes. It has however approached the High Court to seek restraining  injunctions against its two accusers .

    Dismissing insinuation among South Africans that the Federal Government is out to appropriate MTN Nigeria’s assets,  the Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof Garba Umar Dambatta, yesterday in Durban, South Africa,  assured the investment community that there was no such plan, adding that steps have been taken to reach an amicable settlement of the matter.

    South African reporters had  raised fears about the development as being capable of keeping potential investors at bay.

    Prof Dambatta said though the regulatory functions of the NCC have been spelt out by its enabling Act, just as that of the CBN and the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), he said the Commission has stepped in,  adding that an amicable resolution would soon be reached.

    Dambatta, however,  did not give any details. He said intervention in such disputes  was in the DNA of the Commission because of its commitment not to reverse the gains of the sector, which he said is not only adding 10.5 per cent to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP), but also enabling other sectors of the economy.

    Also speaking on the occasion,  MTN Group CEO,  Rob Shutter,  said the telco will amicably work around the logjam.

    Shutter, while commending  the leadership of NCC, s aid the group was proud of the success story of its Nigeria operation, adding that MTN Zambia has followed the footsteps of the NCC to launch a campaign dedicating this year as the Year of the Consumers.

    He assured the international investment community that Nigeria remains an investment destination in Africa.

  • NCC woos investors with 30 per cent tax reduction

    • Sector attracts $5b quarterly FDI

    Nigeria’s telecoms sector regulator,  the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said prospective investors into the telecoms sector would only need to pay 30 per cent of income tax, among other mouth-watering incentives rolled out by the Federal Government.

    It said the sector which attracted $70 billion foreign direct investment  (FDI) last year, has been adding between $4 billion and $5billoon quarterly in FDI since the beginning of the year.

    NCC Executive Vice-Chairman/CEO, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, who unveiled the package to prospective investors who thronged the Nigeria Pavilion during its opening at the ongoing International Telecoms Union (ITU), Telecom World  in Durban, South Africa,  said investors stood to enjoy pioneer status as well as import duty waivers on essential equipment needed for them to setup businesses in Nigeria.

    He said the Executive Order of the Federal Government laid special emphasis on transparency in the discharge of official responsibility.

    Prof Dambatta said with a huge youthful population ever ready to communicate, investors needed not fear about quick returns on investment (RoI).

    He said the steady growth of the telecoms sector’s contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product  (GDP) now at 10.5 per cent, bears eloquent testimony to the sector’s resilience.  He said the non-oil sector has been growing the GDP in line with Federal Government’s Economic diversification blueprint,  adding that the telecoms sector has been taking the lead in this area.

    He said opportunities for investment are available in the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors of the industry, stating that while voice appears not to be doing badly, data is the next investment frontier.

    Dambatta said the ITU forum usually provides opportunity to learn about new technologies, such as Internet of Things (IoT)  and other new technologies.

    He said: “We also come to share our experiences and take home new ideas in global best practices that will assist us to strengthen our regulatory processes and interventions that will make the accelerated growth of telecommunications to dovetail into a better and stronger economy.

    “In our modest quest to bridge the digital divide, the board of the NCC has put in place initiatives to fast track internet access and taking services to several unserved and underserved areas of Nigeria

    “Although we have 162.3million active subscribers on our various networks, we at NCC believe there is much left to be done in terms of improvement of Quality of Service (QoS), more access to as many people as possible.

    “We must admit that the QoS is not where we want it to be yet, but with time and increase of infrastructure deployment, we should be there soonest than later,”Dambatta said.

     

     

     

  • NCC, CPC investigate teleco sector

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), yesterday in Abuja, inaugurated a joint investigative committee for consumer issues in the telecommunications industry. The inauguration was held at the NCC headquarters in Abuja.

    A statement by both bodies at the end of the inauguration, said the collaboration will ensure regulatory clarity and eliminate possible multiple regulatory approaches to similar issues.  This, they contend, is consistent and complimentary to the Federal Government’s commitment to “Ease of Doing Business” and the Economic Recovery and growth Plan (ERGP), which prioritises people and firm but clear regulation that protects citizen, and promotes business and investment.

    The joint inquiry, the statement read, which is also in further partnership with relevant security agencies, is in part on account of incessant and continuing dissatisfaction and complaints by consumers.  Besides, it is also partly in response to a resolution of the Senate of the National Assembly requiring investigation and remedial measures of vital service issues and grievances by consumers.  Both NCC and CPC intend to keep abreast of this important issue to ensure enhanced operations and customer satisfaction.

    Explaining the scope of the work of the joint investigative committee, the statement said it essentially includes service quality, service issues such as call masking, unsolicited subscriptions, difficulty with unsubscribing to billed value added services, and transparency in billing. This is with respect to clarity, data roll over, disclosures about real consumption, deductions for value added services and other key telecommunications services.

    “The expected outcomes are better services, more transparent charges and increased customer service responsiveness by telecommunications operators.  NCC and CPC have assembled a team of skilled operatives to discharge this assignment and look forward to the cooperation of consumers, operators and other stakeholders, particularly with providing information as may be, and when necessary that could be relevant to the subjects of the inquiry,” the statement read.

  • NCC, NDA to deploy technology in military capacity building

    THE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) will partner to strenghten the defence of the country, it was learnt at the weekend.

    NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) Prof Umar Garba Danbatta,  after a meeting with the Commandant of the NDA, Maj.-General Adeniyi Oyebade at the NCC Headquarters, Abuja, said his experience as a visiting professor to the NDA showed that the military institution has tradition of precision and strict adherence to timelines on academic activities. It is, however, not exempted from checks and balances.

    “Intervening in boosting NDA’s technology infrastructure is to ensure the safety of the future of our country,” Dambatta said.

    He  added that NCC will assist in boosting the academy’s cybersecurity programmes.

    NCC has built two computer laboratories and deployed optic fibre links for the two campuses in Kaduna through the Commission’s Advance Digital Awareness Programme for Tertiary Institutions (ADAPTI).

    Danbatta assured the team of NCC’s readiness to collaborate with the management to make NDA a world-class institution.

    Earlier, Maj.-Gen. Oyebade said the NDA, which was founded in 1964 solely for military training, has since 2007 metamorphosed into a degree-awarding institution with several faculties where cadets are awarded degrees alongside their military training.

    He said the school now offers post- graduate programmes in several disciplines.

    Maj.-Gen Oyebade admitted that the present and future military battles will depend on science and technology hence the need to hold talks with the NCC.

    “The NCC has in the past given us very robust support in the development of our ICT infrastructure which we highly appreciate. We still crave for more support, hence this visit – to fill the gaps in our infrastructure needs,” he said.

    The NDA also sought the assistance of the  NCC in the provision of a server managed wired line infrastructure; and to build two more Computer-Based Testing (CBT) centres fitted with about 350 computers.

    The military university chief also urged the NCC to open its doors for collaboration in manpower training for academic and non-academic staff of NDA; boost the school’s existing end user electronics centre; and build a robust back up power to support the infrastructure, among others.

    Also on the entourage were the Academy Provost, Prof. Azubuike Nwankwo; ICT Director, Air Commodore A. S. Bulus; Dean of Military Science, Prof. F. N. Oguleka; Registrar, Brig.-Gen. I. M. Jallo, among others.

  • NCC: operators risk losing out to digitalisation

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has warned operators to shape up in order not to lose grip of the market as digitalisation takes centre stage across the world.

    Its Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Prof Garba Dambatta, who gave the warning in Lagos, said emerging digital age offers opportunities for individuals and organisations to grow.

    “By this, we are talking of knowledge-based economy against resource-based economy when most information is in a digital form especially when compared to the time when computers were not used. Digital age offers the use cutting-edge technologies that improve efficiency, effectiveness and competitiveness of any person or organisation that leverages latest technologies to achieve their operations.

    “In the 21st century economies, digitisation is throwing up dynamics that are re-writing the rules of competition and efficiency with incumbent companies most at risk of being left behind,” he said.

    He said a recent study by Accenture indicates that while the digital technologies underlying these competitive thrusts may not be new, they are being used to new effect.

    The report, according to him, also staggered the growth of information that is accessible as never before-from proprietary big data to new public sources of open data. Analytical and processing capacities have made similar leaps with algorithms scattering intelligence across digital networks often lodged in the cloud. Availability of smart mobile devices and access to the interest, he said make information and computing power accessible to users around the world.

    He said: “As these technologies gain momentum, they are profoundly changing the strategic context affecting the structure of competition, the conduct of business and ultimately, the performance of across industries.

    “Invariably, trends such as automation of processes by public and private organisations, big data, artificial intelligence, internet of things (IoT), e-commerce and block chain technology, cloud computing among others now characterise the current digital age. The utmost aim of all these digital tools is to redefine how services are delivered to the consumer,” he said.

    According ot him, local and foreign direct investments totalling about $70billion have come into the economy while its sectoral contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) now stands at about 9 per cent.

    Dambatta, represented at the ICTEL Expo organised by Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) by Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau at the NCC, Felicia Onwuegbuchukwu, said as at the end of May, there were over 162 million active connections and over 100million internet users in the country with teledensity standing at over 116 per cent.

    He said the next frontier to deepen digitiusation all over the world is through the development of broadband or high-speed internet access.

    “To achieve this, the Commission has been working tirelessly with different stakeholders not only to encourage pervasive broadband infrastructure but also to address challenges hindering the achievement of this goal,” he said.

    He said the NCC is focused on bringing efficient, qualitative and affordable ICT platforms within the reach of every Nigerian, whether individual or corporate, adding that Commission is doing this through the focused implementation of its 8-point Agenda and Federal Government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) and the ICT Roadmap to drive synergies which would expand opportunities for disruptive technology innovation and national competitiveness.

  • NCC: sale of 9mobile ‘ll be completed soon

    • Parties agree on timeline extension

    Telecoms sector regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said the process to sell 9mobile to its preferred bidder, Teleology Nigeria Ltd, was on course, adding that there was no need to fret over the issue.

    Its Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta who gave the assurance in Abuja shortly after receiving an award from representatives of African Achievers Award (AAA) who presented him an Award of Excellence at the Commission’s Headquarters, said a meeting would be held next week among all the stakeholders, especially Teleology promoters, the NCC and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other parties.

    He however declined to give details of the meeting, saying he would not like to pre-empt discussions at the meeting.

    Also yesterday, the Board of 9mobile announced the extension of the timeline for closure of the acquisition process.

    CEO, 9mobile, Boye Olusanya, in a statement, said the timeline extension was considered necessary to enable parties involved in the sale process to finalise the requisite transaction documentation to facilitate a smooth closure and transition to the new investor.

    “The Board of 9mobile is pleased with the progress made thus far and expects the acquisition process to be completed as soon as possible. Further updates in this regard will be provided in due course.

    “We thank our invaluable customers for their support and reiterate our continuing commitment to providing best-in-class telecommunication service,” Olusanya said.

  • NCC: VAS operators to enjoy forex

    Value Added Services (VAS) operators and aggregators have now been incorporated among eligible telecom service stakeholders to enjoy access to foreign exchange (forex) for their operations, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), said yesterday.

    Its Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta said the development was in “recognition of the fact that these categories of operators also engage in intangible telecom transactions/services, which also require foreign exchange to settle”.

    He spoke while declaring open a Stakeholders’ Forum on the Framework for Confirmation of Reasonableness of Service (CRS) Requests at the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja.

    Prof Danbatta told the gathering among whom were representatives of banks, telecom service providers, local and foreign vendors that the forum was organised in line with the tradition of NCC on participatory regulation and consultation with stakeholders on critical matters relating to the industry.

    Represented by Head of Competitive Tariff, Bashiru Idris, the EVC said it was imperative that the revised rules and procedures for processing CRS applications are tabled before the forum to facilitate robust contributions and input from the stakeholders.

    He said: “Since 2003, the commission has continued to perform the confirmation reasonableness of service fee function for intangible telecommunications transactions/services billed in foreign exchange by oversea vendors/partners of relevant Nigerian telecom operators as requested by the CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) and this function has increasingly become important to the commission considering the direct impact these intangible transaction/services have on the Nigerian telecom industry.

    “In performing its role in this regard, the commission has observed instances of over quoted invoices , double submissions, untenured contract as well as demand notices not backed by required valid contract agreements among others, which often result in raising queries or outright decline of the affected invoices.

    “You may recall that stakeholder Fora on CRS were held in 2003, 2009 and 2013 respectively where subsisting CRS procedures were developed and updated in order to guide the industry on the payment for invisible trade transactions.

    “However the process has increasingly become more technical involving arithmetic accuracy checks, price verifications, document checks, international pricing database maintenance, vetting contract agreement amongst other things.

    “These issues coupled with the changes in terms of increased volume of activities which also resulted in increased demands for associated contents, transmission and software required to drive these changes overtime has necessitated further review of the procedure and guidelines for processing CSR requests.”