Telcos Seek Time to Regularise SIM Registration

Telecommunications operators have asked Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to allow subscribers a window of time to normalize irregular SIM registration.

This is coming against the backdrop of abrupt disconnection of some telecom subscribers with irregular Sim registration.

Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek that his association has made a representation to NCC on the need for this window of time for subscribers with Sim registration issues and is waiting the Commission’s response.

“We have written to the NCC on what we think should be the process for data collection and disconnection of subscribers. Now that we are faced with these problems, we will continue to deal with them. We referred to the issue NCC raised about invalid and improperly registered SIM cards which we have been directed as should not be activated on any network. We agreed; we have no objections whatsoever. We also agreed totally that all data we collect will be domiciled with the Commission. In essence, whatever data we collect from our subscriber with respect to their privacy, we will ship them to the Commission.

“We do have few concerns about the process and we have recommended as follows: That where SIM registration records are rejected, as a result of invalid records, we should be given a period of two weeks, to notify the subscriber before we disconnect. Because what we are told now is that when we gather the data and send to the central database, once they discover any missing item, NCC asks you to disconnect them. So, we are saying, give us a declaration on the data considered improperly done within the number of days. Give us that window of time to at least involve the subscriber and normalize the data. This is critical to avoid disconnecting the subscriber who may have come with good intentions to give his/her data. During that period, we will tell the person you cannot make call, but can only receive; so, we can call the subscriber to comply with the process. But, if within the window of time the subscriber fails to comply, then disconnect other services,” he stated.

Adebayo also expressed reservation over the economic burden place on telecommunications operators to collect high level data from subscribers that involve biometrics as if operators are data collection agency of government which has an agency saddle with such responsibility.

“No operator has received one kobo for SIMs registration. No network received any kobo from the NCC or whosoever for the purpose of SIMs registration. All the monies are provided, from end-to-end, by the service providers. The question should be thrown back to those who received the appropriation, not we the operators. Imagine how much the operators are spending in the present economic situation to register over 120million subscribers. The cost is huge, in terms of hardware. There is also the cost of human capital. The operators created registration centres across the country. You need to calculate how much INEC has used in voters’ registration.”

On the timing of the representation, Adebayo said: “We couldn’t have said this much before now to avoid been accused of not supporting the process. It was better for us to run a follow up; define the issues and talk about it. If I had said these about a year ago, they would have said ‘go and register before complaining’. Today, we have fully complied with all required of us. We have disconnected the lines that are not properly registered as ordered by the regulator. Now, we have identified the issues and seeking for the way forward. Also, if we had made this statement about a year ago, people would have asked us to demand for funds from the government, but we have not looked at that. We are doing what the law requires should be done as directed by the Federal Government through the Commission. We are still going forward to put things in the right perspective. If the data are integrated to the national database, it will help even in security. Due to the biometrics involved, it will be easier to identify people
So, in the era we are, it is disheartening to have multiple lines of data collection without an identified national database.”