NCC Urges Use of Type-approved Handsets, Harps on Dangers of Using Pre-Registered Sims

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has urged phone subscribers in the country to ensure that they use only type approved handsets while warning of the dangers of consumers of telecommunications services purchasing or using pre-registered SIM cards. The commission stated these when it took its awareness drive about effective use of communications services in Nigeria to the 23rd Enugu International Trade Fair which ended at the weekend. Mr. Tony Ojobo, director, public affairs of the NCC said that the lists of type-approved phones are available on the NCC website. Ojobo, who spoke at the NCC Day at the fair, which was graced by Dr. Theo Okonkwo and Mr. Emeka Okereke, president and director general of the of the chamber respectively, said that apart from the possibility of these phones being of substandard quality, it also contributes to poor quality of service in the network. He said that the Commission has recently carried out enforcement actions where it discovered that a number of these phones are not type-approved. Ojobo also spoke about the dangers of consumers of telecommunications services purchasing or using pre-registered SIM cards which is a criminal offence for which the Commission would soon embark on enforcement actions to bring the culprits to book. The NCC director, said that the law provides for jail term for anybody involved in this nefarious act, and noted that anybody using a pre-registered SIM card that does not bear the person’s identity could lead to many unpalatable consequences and advised users to inform their friends and family members to avoid the use of pre-registered SIM Cards. He noted the concerns of subscribers about the quality of service in the various networks but promised that with the current efforts of the Commission, including the recent gazette of a new law on quality of service and monitoring of operators, the issue will soon be fully addressed. Ojobo also took his audience to the history of telecommunications services in Nigeria and how the Commission revolutionalized the industry to the point that today, we have over a 99 million active subscriber base from less than 500,000 in 2000, to the point that today, such things like number portability that can enable users switch from one network to another without losing their lines, are already in the pipeline by the Commission. “This phenomenal achievement is a direct result of the Commissions firm policies and regulatory framework that is transparent and consultative”, he said. He said the Commission cherishes such an opportunity like the trade fair where it will have the opportunity of sharing information with a cross section of subscribers and promised that the Commission will show a bigger presence at the trade fair in 2013. Okonkwo who welcomed the NCC team, said “there is no doubt that a high level of change or revolution has taken place in this very important sector of the economy which ahs equally accentuated the pace of socio economic development in our nation” He said that “yet, there remain a lot more to be done, to fully tap the potentials in this sector and for customers particularly of the various GSM network operators to fully maximize the inherent benefits of optimum service delivery by the operators”. He said the trade fair offers a good opportunity for the Commission to interact with her various publics in the eastern part of Nigeria and commended the management of the Commission under, Dr. Eugene Juwah, executive vice chairman, for availing the opportunity offered by the trade fair.