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Tag: Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)

  • MTN paid 275bn SIM infraction fine — NCC

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Tuesday said that MTN has paid N275 billion SIM infraction fine as balance of N55 billion was due this month

    Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof Umar Danbatta, made this known in a statement in Abuja

    Danbatta spoke on the state of MTN fine payment at the valedictory service organised for the Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu in Abuja.

    He said following a negotiated reduction of the N1.04 trillion fine on MTN Nigeria to N330 billion and in line with the staggered payment arrangement, MTN has, so far, paid N275 billion to the Federal Government.

    Danbatta said that part of the fallout of the negotiated terms of payment of the fine is the listing of MTN on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), and this is being done.

    “What this means, according to the staggered arrangement, is that May 31, 2019 would be the deadline for the telecoms company to pay the sixth and final tranche of the balance of N55 billion.

    “After six months of negotiation and re-negotiation over the fine which led to the reduction to N330 billion, it was agreed that MTN would pay a balance of N280 billion in six tranches.

    “This was in addition to the “goodwill” payment of N50 billion earlier made by MTN to the government.

    “Specifically, MTN began the payment structure with the payment of N30 billion into NCC’s Treasury Single Account (TSA) with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) 30 days from the date of the agreement dated June 10 2016.

    “Subsequently, MTN paid N30 billion on March 31, 2017; N55 billion on March 31, 2018; N55 billion on December 31, 2018 and on March 31, it paid N55 billion.

    “The balance and final tranche of the payment will be paid by May 31, 2019, in line with the staggered payments structure agreed by MTN and Nigerian government.

    It will be recalled that the NCC on October 20, 2015, imposed a fine of N1.04 trillion on MTN for infraction of the provision of the NCC Telephone Subscribers Registration Regulations 2011.

    For failure to disconnect 5.2 million improperly-registered Subscriber Identification Modules (SIM) lines within the prescribed deadline because these lines had economic activities on them without proper registration.

    He said that in the agreement reached by the parties involved in a way to avoid decision likely to cripple business interest of the operators the commission regulates.

    Read Also: NCC pays tribute to sportsmen

    It was also agreed that MTN shall apologise to Nigerians, subscribe to the compulsory observance of Code of Corporate Governance for Telecoms Industry; as well as undertake immediate steps to ensure its listing on the NSE.

    Danbatta also said the commission had succeeded in empowering Nigerians “to control, manage and own telecommunications companies in Nigeria by owning shares in MTN Nigeria.”

    He explained that, through the MTN’s listing on the NSE, the commission had translated into action, an important function which is to promote local investment and ownership in the telecom sector.

    According to him: “MTN listing on the stock exchange, we have given reality to that important function of the commission.

    “Through this listing, Nigerians will be empowered to control, own and manage one of dominant telecommunications companies in the country.

    “With MTN shares available in the capital market, Nigerians will buy shares and by purchasing the shares of MTN, they will be financially empowered and be socially transformed.

    “We consider these very important milestones in translating the function of the Commission into reality, as enshrined in the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.”

    NAN

  • NCC: Nigeria home to 75% of junk electronics

    NIGERIA is home to 75 per cent of junk electronic products, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said.

    It expressed concern over this huge volume, saying it has become imperative for stakeholders in the telecom industry, as well as relevant security agencies to come together to tackle the problem headlong.

    Its Executive Vice Chairman, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, yesterday said the country has to adopt proactive mechanism to curtail the dangers of electronic waste (e-waste) because a huge per centage of the electronic products imported into the country are irreparable and could be classified as toxic junk.

    He warned that in view of the enormous dangers constituted by the volume of e-waste in the country, the NCC would renew its nation-wide raids on electronic markets and dealers who have turned the country into a dumping ground for obsolete and second hand electronic devices.

    Danbatta spoke during the Public Inquiry on e-Waste Regulations and Disaster Recovery Guidelines organised by the NCC for telecom industry players at its Headquarters in Abuja.

    He said e-waste is now the fastest growing waste stream in the world with an estimated waste stream spike of about 48.5 million tonnes across the globe in 2018.

    “In Africa, the challenge is even more dire. In a fast-paced telecom industry where speed and capacity define the networks, rapid advances in technology make it easier and convenient to change malfunctioning gadgets than to repair them.

    “Also the illegal and predatory e-waste value chain which encourages the movement of e-waste from developed countries, adds another layer to the global challenge of handling e-waste.

    “In Nigeria due to low GDP per capital /low income, and the desperate quest for information, it is estimated that 75 percent of electronics imported into the country are irreparable and toxic junk,” Dambatta said.

    He described e-waste as electrical or electronic equipment that is waste, including all components, sub-assemblies and consumables. He commended the NCC for leading the way in addressing problems associated with e-waste management through industrial regulations.

    Danbatta said apart from their solid and non-biodegradable nature, some of the toxic elements found in e-waste include lead, mercury, lithium and other ozone depleting substances.

     

     

  • NCC, ONSA go tough on fraudulent mobile devices

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) have resolved to go after unscrupulous elements who use mobile devices to defraud unsuspecting telecoms subscribers.

    To achieve this, the two agencies, working in collaboration with others, yesterday in Abuja, set up two joint committees. The committees are the Project Steering Committee (PSC), comprising the Infrastructure Concession & Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the Federal Ministry of Communications and the NCC; and the Project Delivery Team (PDT) which draws representation from the Federal Ministry of Communications, the ICRC, the Federal Ministry of Finance and the NCC.

    The committees, with specific terms of references, are to work together to ensure the implementation of Mobile Devices Management Systems (DMS), a Public-Private Partnership project, aimed at combatting the proliferation of fake, counterfeit, substandard and cloned mobile communications devices in the telecommunication industry.

    While inaugurating the committees in Abuja, CEO of NCC,  Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, said the move was in line with the mandate of the Commission, as enshrined in the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA), 2003, to type-approve all devices used in the telecommunications industry and to ensure that all devices used in the telecommunications industry are in line with agreed standards and specifications.

  • NCC set to improve telecom broadband

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it has concluded plans to reposition the telecommunications industry in Nigeria to ensure network spreads to everywhere in the country.

    The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta  said this during an annual stakeholders’ consultative forum on selected licence categories in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital on Friday,  tagged, ‘talk to the regulator, 2018’.

    Danbatta who was represented in the meeting by the Director, Licensing and Authorisation, Ms Funlola Akiode noted that the commission has licensed infrastructural companies to commence shared access broadband infrastructure across the country on an output based incentive system.

    He said, “Our framework will ensure that telecom subscribers truly get added value when they sign up for such services, and that all stakeholders along the value chain are treated equitably so that the industry can grow.

    “Our expectation is that licensees will compliment interventions like these from the commission in instituting best practices while running their activities.”

    He called on the operators to key into the commission’s technology neutral regulatory focus policy for a better service delivery.

    According to him, “The technology neutral regulatory focus of the Commission is a plus in this regard. It is something licensees should exploit when thinking solutions to the challenges faced in the sector.”

    Read Also: NCC set to improve telecom broadband

    The forum was aimed at addressing identified problems hindering broadband penetration targets in the country.

    “This forum is aimed at fostering harmonious relationship with licensees, identifying their challenges and providing feedbacks on licensees’ fulfillment of their licence obligations and to re-emphasis the role of licensees in ensuring good quality of service and partnership towards the achievement of the Broadband penetration targets.

    “It is noteworthy that the Nigerian telecommunications industry has continued to make a giant stride which is evidenced in the progressive growth of mobile telephony and internet penetration/data usage. However, there are concerns on the telecom/internet quality of service by subscribers.” Akiode added.

    Meanwhile lincensees in the industry urged the commission to facilitate moves for investments to boost economy.

    In an interview with newsmen at the event, a lincenser, Mr.  Basil Njoku observed that most rural areas in the country are still neglected in terms of Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

    He noted that the development is affecting negatively the growth of the industry and the economy.

    He said, “The rural areas are being neglected. The ISPs are not there and this is one of the major areas government needs to be interested in, to support the lincensees and see how we can get into such areas because individuals cannot achieve that project alone”

    “The licenses also need to know what is currently obtainable in the industry, digital world is evolving and NCC is not doing anything to educate and retrain the lincensees to embrace this developments but we hope that this forum would address such challenges.”

     

     

  • NCC wades into shutdown of base stations

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has waded into the shut down of base stations in Kogi state over the issue of non payment of taxes and levies by telecom companies, the Executive Chairman of NCC Prof Garba Umar Danbatta announced on Thursday.

    Prof Danbatta who broke the news while making a presentation at a workshop organised by GSMA at NCC headquarters in Abuja, said he had fruitful discussions with Kogi state Governor, Yahaya Bello on the matter and the governor agreed on amicable resolutions of the issues.

    The EVC allayed fears that the development might disrupt telecom services in a number of states across the country, saying there is no cause for alarm as the NCC as a regulatory body would not wait for such a thing to happen considering its far reaching implications on the socio-economic growth and development of the country.

    Prof. Danbatta who said the workshop with the theme, “Future Of Industry: Driving Innovation and Growth” was being organised by GSMA in conjunction with NCC with the aimed of preparing the ground for the transformation of the telecom sector with the deployment of 5G services by year 2020.

    He noted that considering the fact that the number of internet users have reached 105 million, and 172 million mobile subscribers as of September this year with a contribution of 10.4 percent to the nation’s GDP, the opportunities and potentials for growth in the sector remain huge for the country.

    “This workshop is to examine the state of NCC readiness, to also sensitize operators, and other stakeholders on the deployment of 5G services and the impact it would create across all sectors and all aspects of lives”, Prof Danbatta said.

    He explained that with adoption of G5 services  the current levels of financial fraud and anonymous hate speeches dominating the social media would pile away, asserting that the NCC is doing all its best to ensure a seamless adoption of the technology.

    Specifically professor Danbatta said NCC would focus on infrastructure development, spectrum allocation and trading and regulations in line with global best practices for the industry, lamenting that Nigeria is yet saddled with telecom infrastructures deficit.

    He said to address the problems of infrastructures deficit, the NCC is advocating Private and Public Sectors Partnership (PPP) for the types of infrastructures to power 5G technology, adding that NCC also introduced subsidy to assist the Infracos as soon as they deployed such infrastructures.

    Read Also: NCC set to improve telecom broadband

    “In the world we live in today, mobile communication is a cardinal tool of economic development, growth and integration, and the mobile industry is a key enabler of productivity across economies and societies,” Prof.  Danbatta said.

    “The mobile industry is not only a significant contributor to the economic activities of Nigeria, but also towards the growth of other sectors of the economy. The Nigerian Communications Commission has been, and continues to play a key role in the development of mobile communication in Nigeria, and I am delighted to be part of this event today.

    ” This provides and avenue for regulators, operators, investors, and other relevant stakeholders to examine, share and constructively exchange ideas,” he added.

    In his presentation, the Head of Sub Saharan Africa for GSMA, Mr Akinwale Goodluck said “Mobile connectivity has already improved the welfare of millions of Nigerians, opening the door to new digital possibilities and powering the country’s economic development.”

    “For Nigeria to take full advantage of the next phase of its digital transformation, it’s vital that collaboration between industry and government enables the right policy environment for millions more to benefit from ultra-fast mobile broadband. If policies don’t keep pace with the needs of society and technological innovation, there is a risk that citizens will be left behind and productivity and competitiveness will suffer.”

    “GSMA research shows that the mobile market in Nigeria makes an important contribution to the economy. The mobile industry contributed $21 billion to GDP in 2017, representing 5.5 per cent of Nigeria’s total GDP. In addition, the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy resulted in the creation of nearly 500,000 direct and indirect jobs”, he asserted.

  • NCC set to improve telecom broadband

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it has concluded plans to re position the telecommunications industry in Nigeria to ensure network spreads to everywhere in the country.

    The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta  said this during an annual stakeholders’ consultative forum on selected licence categories in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital on Wednesday,  tagged, ‘talk to the regulator, 2018’.

    Danbatta who was represented in the meeting by the Director, Licensing and Authorisation, Ms Funlola Akiode noted that the commission has licensed infrastructural companies to commence shared access broadband infrastructure across the country on an output based incentive system.

    He said  “Our framework will ensure that telecom subscribers truly get added value when they sign up for such services, and that all stakeholders along the value chain are treated equitably so that the industry can grow.

    “Our expectation is that licensees will compliment interventions like these from the commission in instituting best practices while running their activities.”

    He called on the operators to key into the commission’s technology neutral regulatory focus policy for a better service delivery.

    According to him “The technology neutral regulatory focus of the Commission is a plus in this regard. It is something licensees should exploit when thinking solutions to the challenges faced in the sector.”

    The forum was aimed at addressing identified problems hindering broadband penetration targets in the country.

    “This forum is aimed at fostering harmonious relationship with licensees, identifying their challenges and providing feedbacks on licensees’ fulfillment of their licence obligations and to re-emphasis the role of licensees in ensuring good quality of service and partnership towards the achievement of the Broadband penetration targets.

    “It is noteworthy that the Nigerian telecommunications industry has continued to make giant strides which is evidenced in the progressive growth of mobile telephony and internet penetration/data usage. However, there are concerns on the telecom/internet quality of service by subscribers.” Akiode added.

    Read Also: NCC donates 70 e-pads to FEDPOFFA School

    Meanwhile licensees in the industry urged the commission to facilitate moves for investments to boost economy.

    In an interview with newsmen at the event,  a lincensees, Mr.  Basil Njoku observed that most rural areas in the country are still neglected in terms of Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

    He noted that the development is affecting negatively the growth of the industry and the economy.

    He said, “The rural areas are being neglected. The ISPs are not there and this is one of the major areas government needs to be interested in, to support the licenses and see how we can get into such areas because individuals cannot achieve that project alone”

    “The licenses also need to know what is currently obtainable in the industry, digital world is evolving and NCC is not doing anything to educate and retrain the lincensees to embrace this developments but we hope that this forum would address such challenges.”

  • NGO urges NCC to remove pornography from Internet

    Mr Sonnie Ekwunsi, the Director, Project for Human Development (PHD), an NGO  has called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to remove pornography from the Internet.

    Ekwunsi made the call in an interview in Abuja on Friday on the sidelines of NCC Stakeholders’ Consultation Forum on the Establishment of Internet Industry Code of Practice.

    “The NCC code should be modified to include specifically that pornography should not be provided by the service providers or content providers.

    “So we are saying NCC should do everything possible to remove pornography apart from cybercrimes from the internet because it is the root of bad character for young ones in the country.

    “We are of the view that the Internet should be filtered and be free from pornography because there is a direct relationship with pornography and high instances of rape.

    “In Nigeria today, we are overwhelmed by rape simply because young people are exposed to pornography online and they want to practice what they see online.

    “Apart from crime and other things done online, pornography is a sure threat to national security in terms of damaging the character of Nigerian children.

    “We know that children are the leaders of tomorrow and once their character is damaged the nation is damaged.

    Read Also: NGO collaborates NDLEA to curb the menace of drug abuse

    “We are still struggling to see if there is a way the service providers can avoid pornography or other illicit materials that damage the character of young ones.

    “So that we have vibrant youths tomorrow,’’ he said.

    Ekwunsi said that his organisation had established clubs in some schools in Lagos known as the PhD Character Clubs where students were taught good manners.

    “ What we are doing in these clubs is to ensure that students have character; it is not only to teach mathematics and other courses in schools.

    “We have to inculcate moral value in them so they become responsible leaders in future.

    “We have it in 10 schools in Lagos, we can’t do more because we don’t have funds but we are planning to also have some in Abuja,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Active mobile lines dip to 160.5m

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Tuesday said active mobile telephone lines in the country dipped marginally to 160.5 million in August from 161.42 million in July. This was contained in its monthly subscribers’ operator data posted on its website.

    The regulator said lines decreased by 904,767 in August.

    NCC said Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) for active mobile lines in August was 119,008 as against 125,444 recorded in July, a decrease of 6,436.

    The data said the number of fixed wired/wireless for active mobile lines in August was 140,806 compared with its July figure of 140,582 lines, recording an increase of 224. According to NCC, the number of Voice-Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) was 105,678 in August compared with 101,131 recorded in July, representing an increase of 4,547 while Teledensity reduced by 0.65 in August to 114.92 as against 115.57 in July. Teledensity is the number of telephone connections for every 100 individuals living within an area and it varies widely across the country.

    The data also showed that the number of connected lines in August stood at 240,432,680 million as against 238,219,577 million in July, showing an increase of 2,213,103 million.

    Connected lines for CDMA during the period was 247,983 as against 246,126 recorded in July, indicating an increase of 1,857.

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

    According to the report, the number of fixed wired/wireless for connected lines in August was 351,103 compared with its July data that had 350,998, indicating an increase of 105 lines. It also showed that the number of VoIP for connected lines in August was 690,042 as against 667,763 in July rising by 22,279 lines.

    Meanwhile, the number of mobile internet users increased marginally to 104.6 million from the 103,671,778 in July showing an increase of 956,564.

    According to the NCC data, Airtel, MTN and Globacom gained more internet subscribers during the month under review, while 9mobile was the only loser.

    Further analysis of the data showed that Airtel gained the more with 421, 467 new internet users in August increasing its subscription to 27,508,240 as against 27,086,773 in July. It further showed that MTN was second, gaining 387,972 new users in the month under review, increasing its subscription to 39,459,642 in August as against 39,071,670 in July.

    Globacom was the third gainer with 272,692 new internet users, increasing its subscription in August to 27,418,767 from 27,146,075 recorded in July. Again, 9mobile was on the losing side as it lost 125, 567 internet users in August decreasing its subscription to 10, 241,693 as against 10,367,260 recorded in July.

     

  • SIM fine: MTN pays N165bn out of N330bn – NCC

    The Nigerian Communications Commission ( NCC ) said that MTN has paid N165 billion out of the N330 billion fine imposed on it due to its inability to disconnect improperly registered SIM cards.

    Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of NCC said this on Monday in Abuja when MTN Group, led by its Chairman in Nigeria, Dr Pascal Dozie visited the commission.

    In October 2015, the telecom regulator imposed a fine of N1.04 trillion on MTN Nigeria for not complying with government’s rule on deactivation of unregistered SIM cards.

    Also, the fine was imposed on MTN for not disconnecting about 5.1 million improperly registered lines in its network within the stipulated deadline.

    After several appeals and negotiations including diplomatic intervention by the South African government, the fine was reduced to N330billion.

    It initially made a commitment payment of N50billion to the government while the remaining balance of N280 billion was to be paid in six tranches in accordance with the agreements between the regulator and MTN.

    “I am happy to inform you that our agreement with MTN on how and when to pay the fine has been adhered to.

    “Just last month, March, we received a cheque of N55billion from MTN as part of the fine payment plan.

    “This brought the total fine paid by MTN Nigeria to N165billion, that is, more than half of the fine

    “It is a whopping sum of money and they have not defaulted and these payments they are making is consistent with the terms of agreement we reached with them ‘’ he said.

    He said that the installmental payment was in line with the terms of agreement reached between MTN and the regulatory body.

    According to Danbatta, the fine is aimed at ensuring that it is not business as usual but to ensure that the rules of engagement are respected.

    “It is also to ensure that the rules governing the telecom sector of the economy is adhered to.

    The NCC boss said that the commission would continue to cooperate with the telecom company because of its major contributions to the economic and digital growth of the nation’s economy.

    Earlier, Chairman of MTN Nigeria said Nigeria was one of the largest contributors to its market and the visit was to cement the relationship between it and NCC.

    Dozie appealed to NCC to auction more spectrums to further open up the ICT space and improve the country’s economy.

    NAN

  • NCC moves to regulate use of satellite communications services

    Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission ( NCC ) said the commission would create a legal framework to regulate the use of satellite communications services and networks.

    Danbatta represented by Mr Austin Nwulune, the Director, Spectrum Administration Department, NCC said this at the Public Inquiry on the Commercial Satellite Communication Guideline and the Draft Consumer Code of Practice Regulations (as Amended).

    According to him, the draft commercial satellite communications guidelines are aimed at creating a legal framework to regulate the provision and use of satellite communication services and networks.

    “In whole or in part within Nigeria or on a ship or aircraft registered in the country.

    “The intention behind the development of the guidelines is to ensure a well-developed and organised satellite communications market in Nigeria.

    “With appropriate legal framework that meets international best practices, encourage innovation and guarantee public safety, ‘’ he said.

    Danbatta said the guidelines would ensure effective management of scarce frequency resources, especially bands where frequency is shared between satellite and terrestrial systems.

    He said the guidelines would also encourage use of satellite connectivity to unserved areas that lack terrestrial transmission infrastructure backbone.

    The NCC boss said on the draft Consumer Code of Practice Regulations was an amendment on the previous regulations made in 2007.

    He said the guidelines would provide a more robust framework, effective and efficient processes /procedures to be followed by licensees in developing their individual consumer code to govern the provision of services and other related consumer practices.

    “This to ensure that consumers are adequately informed of the type of services being offered by operators, thereby aligning with the commission’s function of protecting the interests of consumers  against unfair practices.

    “Furthermore, these regulations have been amended to reflect best practice in the industry,’’ he said.

    Danbatta said the public inquiry forum was part of the commission’s rule-making process  aimed at ensuring wide consultation in the development of regulatory instruments in accordance with NCC Act, 2003.

    He said over the years, the process had proven invaluable in sourcing the opinions and inputs of stakeholders toward the development of sound regulatory frameworks for the Nigerian telecommunication industry.

    Mrs Yetunde Akinloye, the Director, Legal and Regulatory Services, NCC while speaking on the overview of the amended Consumer Code of Practice Regulations said all codes must be submitted to the commission for approval.

    Akinloye said approval should be granted within 30 days of submission of a code, unless the commission informs the licensee to amend the submitted code.

    She said an approved code shall be published in two national newspapers within 30 days of approval.

    “Licensees are required to provide a copy of the approved code to consumers on request,’’ she said.

    NAN