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Tag: NCC

  • QoS by telcos has improved – NCC

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said on Tuesday there has been considerable improvement in the Quality of Service (QoS) provided by telecommunication companies in the first quarter of 2017.

    The NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta, made the assertion shortly after the presentation of the NCC’s Performance Report by the Director General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Dr. Joe Abah, to the management of the commission.

    Prof. Danbatta maintained that Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that define QoS had been put in place for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) assessment.

    “The result of the assessment in the 1st quarter of 2017 has shown improvement in QoS by telecommunication companies,” the NCC chief stated.

    He, however, added that NCC would leave no stone unturned in its bid to provide the best for telecom consumers across the country.

    A statement signed by the NCC Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo, noted that “very strong business organizational structure, policies and practices that facilitate effective and efficient service delivery were some of the high points, the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) considered before naming the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) top in institutional work processes in the country.”

    He said the Director General of BPSR also presented a plaque to Prof. Danbatta during the event at the NCC Headquarters in Abuja.

  • Use 2442 to stop provocative SMS, says NCC

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has advised subscribers to stop unsolicited and most often, provocative text messages by sending “STOP” to “2442”.

    It said this was part of  its ongoing campaign to enlighten consumers on their rights to better services.

    Declaring 2017 as the year of Nigerian Telecom Consumer , its Executive Vice Chairman (EVC)  Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta said the campaign would focus on two key areas: improving the quality of service, protecting and educating the consumer.

    “To address the unsolicited calls received by consumers, the NCC has introduced the Do Not Disturb (DND) facility where consumers are urged to activate the service by dialing “2442”.

    A statement endorsed by its Director, Public Affairs, Tony Ojobo, explained that the EVC also advised consumers to access the customer toll free line by dialing 622 to register their complaints if they do not get such complaints addressed by the mobile network operator (MNO).

    According to him, NCC intends to increase the awareness level and  the activation level of these two initiatives to ensure that the consumer experiences improved QoS this year and beyond.

    “The Commission is implementing measures to reduce dropped call rate (DCR) to meet its benchmark of less than one percent. It will closely monitor, track and review the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of operators by Network Integrity and Technical Standards Department.

    “Greater efforts would also be put in Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement of set standards,”  the EVC was quoted to have said.

    The Commission has started an enlightenment campaign to let the consumers know what to do whenever the issue of unsolicited telemarketing arises.

    Jingles are already running on radio stations and adverts in the print and other media are underway.

    Subscribers have also been advised to avoid buying pre-registered Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards because of the dangers such action portend to the security of themselves and the entire society.

    “Every SIM card purchased must be registered with the network provider,” the NCC insisted.

  • NCC destroys illegal equipment

    NCC destroys illegal equipment

    Operatives of the Nigerian Copyrights Commission (NCC) at the weekend in Enugu, clamped down on illegal broadcast hideouts, destroying infringing broadcast equipment estimated at N8.75million.

    The operation was carried in Achara Layout, Coal Camp, Zik Avenue and Agbani Road areas of Enugu metropolis.

    It was facilitated by MCN/DSTV whose right in the broadcast of some contents was being infringed upon by illegal distributors/pirates who use their Single Uit Dwelling (SUD) meant for private use to connect to other unsuspecting individuals and charge them monthly.

    The illegal action, according to the NCC zonal manager, Mrs. Ngozi Okeke, was causing a huge financial loss to MCN/DSTV.

    The operation tagged “Strike Force” was coordinated by Copyright Inspectors, the police, staff of MCN/DSTV and led by Mcfoy Akachukwu.

  • NCC develops programmes to empower telecom consumers

    NCC develops programmes to empower telecom consumers

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has developed a number of programmes aimed at empowering telecommunications consumers.

    The NCC Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Abdullahi MaiKano, disclosed this at the 26th Edition of Consumer Town Hall Meeting held in Wudil, Kano state on Thursday.

    He said it was in realisation of the basic rights of the consumer that the NCC, a telecom regulatory agency, developed the programmes to empower consumers pointing out that one of such programmes is the to town hall meeting.

    MaiKano, who was represented by Deputy Director, Alhaji Isma’ila Adedigba, said the programmes were also introduced to ensure the provision of qualitative and efficient telecommunications services.

    “We believe that consumer is a king in the palace of the market thus, the consumer must be accorded their rights such as the right to be heard, educated, and the right to be redress as well as the right to safety,” he said.

    According to him, the programme was a tripartite meeting between regulators, operators and consumers to resolve pressing consumers’ issues in relations to the provision of telecom services.
    One of the NCC core objectives is to protect the rights of telecom consumers in the country,” he said.

    He said the commission had declared 2017 as a year of telecom consumers.

    The director added the campaign was launched on March 15, was aimed at deepening awareness on the NCC 622 toll-free line to lodge complaints to NCC and the 2442 short code to stop unsolicited messages.

    He called on consumers to take advantage of the programme to be well informed so that no one takes undue advantage of them.

    The programme was attended by the representatives of various service providers, who had the opportunity to entertain the pressing questions from consumers.

  • Active telecoms users now 154.1m – NCC

    Active telecoms users now 154.1m – NCC

    Active users of telecommunications services in Nigeria decreased from 155.1 million in January to 154. 1 million in February, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said.

    The NCC noted a decrease of 993,063 in the number of telecoms users across the country in January.

    “Active users of telecommunications services in the country increased to 154,120,484 in February this year from 155,113,547 in January, ” the telecommunications industry regulator made this known in its monthly Subscriber/Operator Data obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos.

    According to the data, 153,661,547 of the 154,120,484 active numbers subscribed to the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network services.

    The GSM operators’ active customers decreased by 998,899 of the 154,660,446 subscribers recorded in January.

    The reports states that of the GSM operators, MTN had 61,390,697 users in February which decreased by 858,130 against 62,248,827 recorded in January.

    Globacom’s figure increased in February by 27,552, giving a total of 37,250,455 customers against 37,223,902 in January.

    Airtel had 34,832,181 subscribers in the month under review which increased by 165,416 users against 34,666,765 recorded in January.

    Etisalat, however, recorded a drop in customers by 333,738 in February, giving a customer base of 20,188,214  against 20,521,952 users in January.

    The Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operators had 217,566 users in February same with the result of January.

    Between the two surviving CDMA service providers, Visafone had 213,106 customers, while Multi-Links had 4,460 in the month under review.

    It shows that the Fixed Wireless network (landline) consumers remained at 26,865 in February.

    NCC’s report said between the two Fixed Wireless, Visafone had 26,437 subscribers as Multi-Links maintained its November record of 428 customers.

    It also revealed that the Fixed Wired operators (landline) subscriber base increased by 412, giving a total of 124,635 users in February against 124,223 recorded in January.

    In the Fixed Wired arena, MTN Fixed moved from having 8,028 in January to 8,564 in February, thereby increasing by 536 users, while Glo Fixed had 12,742 users in February.

    It said that Glo added 11 customers to the January record of 12,731.

    IpNX network moved from 2,477 subscriber base in January to 2,589 in February, increasing its customers by 112.

    It said that 21st Century network had 100,740 customers in February, recording a decrease of 247 users from its January record of 100,987.

    The report shows that the two Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) networks had 89,871 active users in February, as their customers increased by 5,424 from their January subscriber base of 84,447.

    Of the VOIP networks, Smile Communication had 36,285 customers, giving an increase of 573 users to its January result of 35,712.

    Ntel had 53,586 consumers subscribing to its products and services in the month of February, showing an increase of 4,851 user to the January record of 48,735.

    According to the regulatory body, Section 89 Subsection 3(c) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 mandates it to monitor and report the state of the telecommunications industry.

    ”The commission is mandated to provide statistical analyses and identify industry trends with regard to services, tariffs, operators, technology, subscribers, issues of competition and dominance.

    ”This is with a view to identifying areas where regulatory intervention will be needed.

    ”The commission regularly conducts studies, surveys and produces reports on the telecommunications industry.

    ”Therefore, telecommunications operators are obligated under the terms of the licences to provide NCC with such data on a regular basis for analytical review and publishing,” the report said

  • Fostering NCC’s, consumers’s relationship

    Fostering NCC’s, consumers’s relationship

    Today’s event is remarkable because the Nigerian Telecom Consumer is center stage. Often ignored, exploited and regarded as an irritation, the telecom consumer fulfils that truism that a chain can only be as strong as its weakest link.”
    That was how the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, chose to open his address at the Commission’s flag off of the year of the telecom consumer last Wednesday in Abuja.
    No doubt, these beautifully crafted words from the regulator’s mouth were so compelling that it’s not surprising they instantly struck a chord with the general sentiment of the telecom consumer in the country.
    Indeed, it’s the consumer who has always been at the receiving end notwithstanding his role as the most significant part in the telecom ecosystem.
    As the EVC aptly puts it: “The telecom weak link, rightly or wrongly is the consumer. The consumer who scratches a N200 air credit card is as important as the one that spends one hundred thousand naira.”
    According to Danbatta, both the two consumers expect qualitative service from their operators whether in making calls or using data.
    It’s in this light that the EVC insisted that the consumer deserves the kingly treatment, saying: “we must remember that these consumers together have made all the success stories we speak about possible in the telecom industry today.”
    Those of us who have been following development in the telecommunication sector were pleasantly surprised when the Danbatta–led NCC declared this year, the NCC 2017 Year of the Nigerian Telecom Consumer. We were also particularly thrilled that the commission chose a symbolic day for the flag off. It was the day that Consumer International designated as the World Consumer Rights Day with the theme ‘Building a digital world consumers can trust’. Thus the connotation cannot therefore be easily missed.
    The truth, however, is that, NCC, especially under the present leadership, has always shown uncommon concern toward customer satisfaction in the industry it regulates.
    When Danbatta unveiled his 8-Point-Agenda last year, the sixth component of the well-publicised and comprehensive plan was clearly centered on empowering the consumer. Yet, even the second item either, improving the Quality of Service (QoS), was no less consumer centric. That nothing gives the consumer no one satisfaction more than the quality of the services he or her enjoys has been in doubt.
    What should consumer
    expect from NCC’s declaration?
    Again, Danbatta eloquently put this into perspective.
    “The Year of the Consumer will focus on two key areas: improving the Quality of Service; protecting and educating the consumer,” he explained.
    He, however, noted that: “to address the unsolicited calls received by consumers, the NCC has introduced the Do Not Disturb (DND) facility where consumers are urged to activate the service by dialling 2442.
    “There is also the 622 number for the NCC customer complaint line. NCC intends to increase the awareness level and equally the activation level of these two initiatives.”
    In the same vein, the EVC revealed that in a move to ensure that the consumer experiences improved QoS, the commission is introducing fresh measures to reduce Dropped Call Rate (DCR) to meet its industry benchmark of less than one per cent (<1% DCR).
    The commission will, according to him, closely monitor, track and review the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of operators by Network Integrity and Technical Standards.
    Likewise, there will be greater efforts in compliance, monitoring and enforcement of set standards in addition enlightening consumers about the environmental impact of telecom infrastructure.
    Earlier, the Executive Commissioner Stakeholder Management of the Commission, Mr Sunday Dare, flaunted his journalistic acumen while providing more insight on the significance of the declaration.
    “Many would want to ask why the NCC 2017 Year of the Nigerian Telecom Consumer? A loaded question no doubt. I will attempt to provide a quick answer using the five Ws and H that guided me through my career as a media and communications professional. They are the WHY, WHEN, WHERE, WHAT, and WHO,” he said.
    “Why? The consumer is important as the oxygen that keeps Telcos alive. The consumer is a major stakeholder whose satisfaction matters. The satisfaction of the consumer will help the Telcos increase their revenue base. NCC as a regulator is mandated to protect, inform and educate consumers.
    “When? The campaign runs in 2017 and beyond. Every time we seek to engage and explore ways to make customer experience better is the when of this campaign.
    “Where? In the Nigeria telecoms industry, both for the inbound and outbound call experience -it is all over the country, from Kano to Kotongora, from Ado-Ekiti to Ekpoma, from Ikeja to Lokoja, from Dutse to Jos, Birnin-Kebbi to Yenagoa, we want the consumer to experience good quality of service.
    “Who? The consumer – subscribers to voice and SMS services, subscribers to data service and subscriber to Value Added Services.
    “How? By providing unique and timely information to empower the consumer, by engaging stakeholders in a constructive way to ensure that they work with the NCC, by ensuring quality of service across board, by increasing the level of awareness and activation of the 2442 DND service and by educating the consumer about the environmental and health impact of the telecoms infrastructure and type of phones approved for use.”
    Speaking also at the occasion, the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu commended the commission for the timely declaration.
    “The theme for the Word Consumer Right Day 2017 is ‘Building a Digital World Consumers can Trust’ it is therefore very apt for the NCC to flag off and declare 2017 the year of the Nigerian Telecom Consumer since the theme of the 2017 WCRD celebration falls within the purview of the NCC regulatory activities and oversight functions on the Telecomm Industry,” he noted.
    The ceremony also witnessed the attendance of dignitaries including Chairman of the board of the commission, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, representing the Vice President, Senator Solomon Olamilekan, representing the Senate President, and Chairman House of Representatives’ Committee on Communications, Shaheed Fijabi,.
    Another interesting highlight of the occasion was the unveiling of two celebrities, Ali Nuhu and Helen Paul as the faces of the telecom consumers. They both spoke enthusiastically about identifying with the noble campaign.
    Indeed those of us in attendance must have seen enough to be convinced that NCC means business.
    And if there was any concern that other components of the telecommunications ecosystem may suffer neglect at the expense this declaration, the EVC has allayed that.
    “Our focus on the consumer this year does not in any way suggest neglect of the other stakeholders in the telecommunication sector. Rather, it suggests a recommitment to consumer satisfaction. NCC is driven by the desire to empower the consumer and it is rolling out new initiatives to achieve this,” he observed.
    •Ikpere writes from Abuja

  • Helen Paul bags NCC endorsement

    Helen Paul bags NCC endorsement

    Nigerian comedienne, Helen Paul, has inked another endorsement deal as the new ‘Face of the Telecom Consumer’ by the Nigerian Communications Commission.

    According to reports, the comedienne signed the deal last Wednesday at the commission’s head office in Abuja.

    With her new endorsement, the actress joins Kannywood actor, Ali Nuhu, as the face of the Nigerian Telecom Consumer Campaign.

    A statement issued by the commission reads: “Following their appointments, Ali and Helen will now feature in handbills, flyers, banners, posters, TV appearances, radio jingles, as well as on memorabilia and other iconography materials designed by the Commission for its series of activities scheduled to sensitise and celebrate the telecom consumers as the most central stakeholders of the telecommunications industry in Nigeria.”

    Reports  also has it that the non-exclusive contract also flagged off the “Year of the Telecom Consumer” Campaign in Abuja, coinciding with the global celebration of World Consumer Rights Day.’

  • NCC develops numbering plan for phone networks

    The Nigerian Communication  Commission (NCC) has developed a National Numbering Plan (NNP) aimed at designing a uniform numbering scheme for easy calls to subscribers and operators.

    The NCC said on its website yesterday that the NNP would provide a uniform dialing procedure for local, national long distance, international calls and calls to emergency, special services, independent of where the call is originating from in the country.

    Other numbering information includes, terminologies, dialing procedure, area codes by zone and primary centre and mobile telephony number allocation.

    It said that some of its terminologies are numbering area, trunk prefix, trunk code, directory number and international prefix, among others.

    “Numbering area is part of the country to which a trunk code has been allocated and within that area only the directory numbers are dialled.

    “Trunk prefix is the digit or a combination of digits to be dialed by a calling subscriber so as to obtain access to a trunk code and the numbering area.”

    The commission said the international prefix is the number dialled after the international prefix.

  • NCC, CBN join forces to save Etisalat from creditors

    NCC, CBN join forces to save Etisalat from creditors

    Creditors have lost their battle to take over mobile giant Etisalat.

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) staved off the planned takeover  by a consortium of banks the company is owing over  N200 billion.

    NCC Executive Vice Chairman Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta broke the news yesterday at a conference shortly after the opening of the” NCC’s Year of Consumer”, which was held at its headquarters in Abuja.

    He said NCC, as part of its strategic  partnership, intervened in the matter to save the industry from a major calamity, but added that more negotiations would yet take place among the stakeholders.

    Danbatta said the NCC and the CBN scheduled another meeting for next week among the major actors, pointing out that shareholders would also be involved in the talks to ensure an amicable resolution of the problem.

    “At this point, let me assure you that there is no cause for alarm regarding the matter; the regulators are on top of the situation and details of the resolution would be made available within the next couple of weeks.”

    “The NCC and the CBN have to intervene regarding this issue, particularly in a manner that will not disturb the business operations of all the parties involved and in the larger interest of the nation’s economy,” Danbatta said.

    He spoke of how in 2015,  consumers spent $5.6 billion on telecommunications services. “And in 2016, they topped it up by another 1 billion dollars to make it $6.6 billion,” the NCC chief said.

    To him, “today’s event is remarkable and more remarkable is that the year 2017 is dedicated to the Nigerian Telecom consumer – a management decision that compels us to seek to amplify our activities towards ensuring that the consumer enjoys a consumer experience that is enhanced and consistent in time and granted.

    “Just as their patronage is important, they must not and cannot be taken for granted. NCC knows and recognises this. That is why 2017 and I dare say, and even beyond the consumer will be be our focus. NCC intends to inform and educate the consumer with the sole intent to protecting and empowering them to make the right decisions.”

    Communications Minister Adebayo Shittu said the government had articulated its position and direction on issues that are key to ICT development at global and national levels, in collaboration with the NCC.

    He said the Ministry was working on formulating cogent policies, frameworks and guidelines on protecting ICT consumers, especially in telecommunications.

    “Nigeria has established itself as one of the fastest growing (and as such one of the most important) mobile cellular markets in the world. The normal anticipated consumer data-base should be hosting about 450 million records of users, if each consumer joins at least two networks vendors, with each having at least a single SIM card,” the minister said

  • Nigerian telecom consumers spend $6.6 bn in 2016 – NCC

    Nigerian telecom consumers spend $6.6 bn in 2016 – NCC

    Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says Nigerian telecom consumers spend a whopping 6.6 billion dollars in 2016.

    Danbatta disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during the  launched the NCC Year of Consumer.

    He said that in 2015, the Nigerian telecom consumers spent 5.6 billion dollars, adding that consumers’ contribution had made the success stories possible in the sector.

    “That’s why today’s event is remarkable. More remarkable is that the year 2017 is dedicated to the Nigerian Telecom Consumer,’’ he said.

    He said that NCC this year intended to inform and educate consumers with the sole aim of protecting and empowering them to make the right decisions.

    He said that a robust media programme would accompany the initiatives in this campaign through the year providing unique and timely information to all.

    “That is why in 2017, and I dare say and even beyond, the consumer will be our focus.

    “The NCC is mandated to monitor the quality of service and ensure it conforms to acceptable standard.

    “A management decision that compelled us to seek to amplify our activities toward ensuring that the consumer enjoys a customer experience that is enhanced and consistent in time and quality.

    “We must remember that these consumers together have made all the success stories speak about in the telecom industry today,“ he said

    According to him, the event is remarkable because the Nigeria Telecom Consumer is centre stage.

    As part of the launch, the commission announced Mr Ali Nuhu, an actor and producer popularly known as King of Kannywood of Hausa movies and Ms Helen Paul, a broadcaster and stand-up comedian as the “Face of the Nigerian Telecom Consumer“.

    The Ministry of Communication, Mr Adebayo Shittu said  that the ministry was working on formulating policies frameworks and guidelines on protecting ICT consumers.

    Shittu said that government had actively engaged key stakeholders working to ensure quality of service and consumer right.

    “Our goal is to fully balance between consumer rights and right to privacy.

    “Also to facilitating inter-Governmental Consultations on ICT matters to avoid unnecessary disparities in developmental structures and standards in Nigeria.

    “Government is also working to create digital awareness with the objective of increasing the capacity, confidence and trust Nigerians have in digital lives.

    “ICTs are invaluable to the process of governance, business, education, health among others,“ he said.

    Shittu said that government was increasing its adoption of ICT to provide better response to the citizens’ demands and improve service delivery to make administration more efficient.

    “I am delighted to be invited to be part of the celebration of the flagging off of the NCC 2017 year of the consumer.

    “This is timely in view of the fact that the date coincided with the Wold Consumer Right Day (WCRD) celebration.