Telecom
NCC Urged To Be Tougher on Erring Network Providers
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been urged to place tougher sanctions on erring network providers that fail to comply with the commission’s directive on quality of service.
Some of the subscribers who made these assertions on Thursday in Abuja also commended NCC for making 2017 “Year of Consumer“.
According to them, this has helped to put the network providers on their toes in 2017 and urged the NCC to do even more in 2018.
Mr Alex Abitogun, the Chairman, Computer Society of Nigeria, Abuja Chapter said the NCC’s initiative to bring service providers, consumers and key stakeholders in the telecoms sector together to interact was a good initiative.
“This kind of platform brings about open interactive session where people can air their views about the telecoms operators’ in general or for a particular service.
“People can air their views on whether they are satisfied with the service being provided or not.
“On the other side, the telecoms companies will take these feedbacks to improve the relationship with the end users,’’ he said.
Mr Thomas Abu, a businessman said the campaign was a welcome development and urged NCC to take the campaign to the rural areas to enlighten the consumers.
“NCC has done well but it should take the campaign to those in the rural areas for more enlightenment on the issue.
“It should not rest until all service providers adhere to its directives”.
Mr Samuel Abah, a fashion designer said he was satisfied with what NCC was doing by informing subscribers on their rights.
Abah said the enlightenment programme by NCC had assisted him in knowing so many things he was not aware of about concerning his network.
“I am just getting to know a lot of things about my network that I was not aware of before.
“I want the NCC to continue with this in 2018.
“When I started receiving unsolicited messages and calls I was so angry with my network provider until I heard about the 622 short code introduced by NCC,” he said.
Mrs Ama Iyere, a civil servant said the NCC initiative was good as it had helped subscribers to know their rights.
It will be recalled that the NCC had on March 15, 2017 flagged off the campaign on the “2017 Year of Consumers’’ to protect consumers and give them their rights.
Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman NCC, said during inauguration 2017 Year of the Consumer dedicated to the Nigerian Telecoms consumers by the commission.
“The year will focus on two key areas: improving the Quality of Service; Protecting and Educating the Consumer,’’ he said.
He added, that to address the unsolicited calls and messages received by consumers; the NCC 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,’’ he said.
Telecom
FG Plans EO to Criminalise Fiber Cable Damage Costing Telcos Billions
Nigeria will criminalize the destruction of broadband fiber cables following repeated complaints by MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and other telecommunications companies that they are losing billions of naira, according to people familiar with the matter.
Federal ministry of works, which supervises federal road constructors, is finalizing the regulation that will be signed as an executive order by President Bola Tinubu, said the people, asking not to be identified as they weren’t authorized to comment.
While there are presently laws against vandalism, the authorities are aiming to regulate construction firms more closely.
The order will enforce stiff penalties on offenders, said the people, declining to provide more details or say when it will be signed.
“Telecom assets are critical backbone that supports the economy across sectors,” said Temitope Ajayi, a senior presidential aide, who noted that the Association of Telecommunications Companies (ATCON) has been demanding the classification for years.
New rules will provide “further assurance that the Nigerian government will protect their investments against vandals and criminal elements.”
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) estimates that the sector will make up more than a fifth of the country’s gross domestic product by the end of 2027, up from 13.5% in the third quarter of last year.
The move will help alleviate pressure on the telecoms sector, which is facing increased operating costs and sales pressures from a sharp depreciation in the currency and a threefold increase in energy prices.
Repairs and revenue losses from damaged cables is estimated to have cost the sector almost 27 billion naira ($23 million) last year alone, documents seen by Bloomberg show.
MTN Nigeria, the biggest wireless operator in Africa’s most-populous nation, and Airtel Africa Plc bore the brunt of the costs, the documents show.
MTN suffered more than 6,000 cuts on its fiber cable last year, the documents show. On Feb. 28, a cut on its network in three different locations by a road construction firm, an oil serving company and someone burning rubbish in a manhole meant customers faced more than five hours of data and voice outages.
The operator relocated 2,500 kilometers (1,553 miles) of vulnerable fiber cables between 2022 and 2023, at a cost of more than 11 billion naira – enough to build 870 kilometers of new fiber lines to areas without coverage.
A presidential order on the matter would be welcomed, said Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere, president, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria.
“When it comes to communication infrastructure, they are destroyed at will, so we are eagerly awaiting the president’s order,” he said. “It would be a great boost to the industry, and it will also encourage investment.”
Telecom
Telegram Eyes 1Bn Users amidst Political Pressures
Telegram, the messaging giant founded by Pavel Durov and headquartered in Dubai, anticipates hitting a remarkable milestone of one billion active monthly users within the next year.
Durov’s departure from Russia in 2014, prompted by governmental pressures to stifle opposition communities on his VK social media platform, underscores Telegram’s commitment to neutrality despite geopolitical challenges.
With 900 million active users currently, Telegram stands as a beacon of free speech in the digital realm, particularly influential in former Soviet Union republics and pivotal during conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine standoff.
Durov’s staunch advocacy for freedom of expression and opposition to censorship by tech giants like Apple and Google reinforces Telegram’s status as a neutral platform.
Opting for the UAE as its base, Durov cites its neutrality and openness as conducive to Telegram’s ethos, serving both opposition groups and governments alike while maintaining impartiality.
In Durov’s vision, the pursuit of freedom eclipses material gain, shaping Telegram’s trajectory as a bastion of digital liberation.
Telecom
NITDA, NIMC Announce Collaboration To Strengthen Digital Economy
To further strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have announced a collaboration on National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to enhance and create synergy between digital identity, payment ecosystem, and secure & seemless data exchange capabilities for Nigeria.
During the meeting between the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, and Director General of NIMC, Engr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, with some management staff of both organisations, they discussed various initiatives, which include building DPI stacks for a secured and seamless data exchange and forming partnerships to transform the national identity system.
This collaboration also aims to harness the potential of the innovative ecosystem and emphasise the use of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) to drive digital transformation in Nigeria.
To ensure a smooth implementation, a 12-man committee was set up. This committee will play a crucial role in kickstarting and harmonising the initiatives. It is expected to deliver a comprehensive implementation report within the next 4 weeks
- News2 days ago
QNET Raises Alarm over Fraudulent Use of Foundation’s Name in Nigeria
- News2 days ago
SoftTalk Messenger Introduces Chat and Make Calls without Sharing your Phone Number
- Telecom2 days ago
NCC Advises Subscribers to Opt for Strong Passwords to Beat Hackers
- Telecom2 days ago
Starlink Users in SA to be Cut Off April 30
- Broadcasting2 days ago
Canal+ Offer for MultiChoice Gains Shareholders’ Support
- E-Financial2 days ago
Fidelity Bank Reports N124.3Bn Pre-Tax Profit for 2023
- Telecom2 days ago
9mobile Clinches 2 Trophies at the Prestigious SABRE Awards 2024
- Telecom2 days ago
Six tips for building a website that really works for your business