Telecom
Paradigm Initiative Asks Court to Stop NCC from Disconnecting Subscribers
Paradigm Initiative has gone to court to restrain the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) from implementing the directive to disconnect all SIM cards that are not linked to the National Identification Number (NIN) by December 30, 2020
The directive came from Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, minister of Communications and Digital Economy, who had last week convened a stakeholders’ meeting, where decisions were taken that telecoms operators would require all their subscribers to provide valid NIN to update their SIM registration record.
Subscribers were therefore mandated to submit their NIN to their service providers within two weeks, from December 16-30, 2020 and that after the deadline, all SIMs that are not linked to NIN will be blocked.
Owing to this, PIN went to court, seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the government and the service providers from carrying out the draconian order as it believes it was a violation of fundamental rights to freedom of expression of Nigerian Citizens as guaranteed by Section 39 of the Nigerian 1999 constitution, as amended.
Adeboye Adegoke, senior programme manager at Paradigm Initiative, said the proposed blocking of SIM cards not linked with the National Identity Number, was unlawful and unconstitutional.
According to Adegoke, “Many young people and others, using their mobile phones for expression or to do business online will be affected by the poorly thought-out policy. No reasonable Nigerian will support such a policy that is geared to make life unbearable for Nigerian citizens.”
He quoted Aliyu Aziz, director-general of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), who said in June 2020 that only 38 per cent of Nigerians have any form of identification, which indicates that over 100 million Nigerians have no identity (ID).
Adegoke said the directive had created panic in the polity since it was announced.
According to him, “Nigeria at the moment is experiencing a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic according to the daily numbers from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in the past one week.
“This is a time when we need to discourage public gatherings, crowding, and the likes, but it appears that the government is not sensitive enough to see those nuances and has asked that 100 million Nigerians should go and register for the National Identification Number within two weeks, so we are left with no choice but to seek the intervention of the court.”
Valery Nijaba, communications officer at Paradigm Initiative, said: “Requiring over 100 million Nigerian citizens to register for NIN in two weeks is not only unrealistic but a fire brigade approach to governance that will not bring any value to the people.
“Whatever the government is trying to achieve by the strange directive is ignoble.
“When the same government tried to compel students writing UTME examinations to register for the NIN as a pre-requisite to sitting for the examinations last year, many students couldn’t register, with documented cases of government officials and law enforcement officials weaponising the desperation of the students to register for NIN to extort them and their parents.
“The government was forced to walk back on the policy at that instance. These are the type of effects the fire-brigade approach to policymaking leads to.”
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has dismissed claims of a telecommunications tariff hike allegedly set to take effect in January 2025.
The Commission described the reports as false and unfounded, urging subscribers to disregard the misinformation.
A senior NCC official, emphasised that the regulatory body operates under a transparent framework guided by the Nigerian Communications Act, according to Punch Newspaper.
According to the official, this framework requires stakeholder consultations and strict adherence to due process before any tariff adjustments are approved.
“These rumours are baseless and misleading. The NCC is committed to protecting consumers and ensuring that any potential tariff changes are communicated clearly and transparently,” the official stated.
“Subscribers can rest assured that no tariff increase has been approved,” he added.
The NCC also appealed to journalists and industry stakeholders to verify information before publication, stressing the importance of accurate reporting to avoid unnecessary public panic.
Reiterating its commitment to consumer interests and the stability of the telecommunications industry, the Commission assured Nigerians that updates on tariffs or related matters would always be communicated through official channels.
The Association of Telephone, Cable TV, and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS) also addressed the rumours.
Speaking in Lagos, Mr Sina Bilesanmi, national president, ATCIS, stated that the association sought clarification directly from the NCC on December 24, 2024.
“The NCC confirmed there is no truth to claims of call charges increasing to N15.40 per minute from N11, SMS charges rising to N5.60, or 1GB of data costing N1,400 instead of N1,000.
“Any changes in tariffs, if necessary, will follow due process and involve input from all stakeholders, including ATCIS. There is no cause for alarm,” Bilesanmi said.
Both the NCC and ATCIS emphasised their commitment to consumer protection and urged subscribers to rely on verified information from credible sources.
Telecom
UnoTelos and Niral Networks Forge Strategic Partnership to Revolutionize Connectivity in Africa
UnoTelos, a leading telecommunications innovator in Nigeria, has announced a groundbreaking strategic partnership with Niral Networks, an advanced Private 5G and EDGE AI computing solutions provider from India.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone in addressing connectivity challenges and driving digital transformation across Africa.
Transformative Connectivity Solutions
The partnership between UnoTelos and Niral Networks emerges from a shared vision to overcome critical network infrastructure limitations that have traditionally hindered technological progress in the region. By combining UnoTelos’ deep understanding of the African market with Niral Networks’ cutting-edge NiralOS 5G Core and Edge AI technology, the collaboration aims to deliver secure, low-latency, and scalable connectivity solutions.
“This partnership is more than a technological alliance—it’s about empowerment,” said Jude Egbokwu, Founder & CEO of UnoTelos. “We are not just solving connectivity problems; we’re creating opportunities for businesses to innovate, grow, and compete on a global stage.”
“Our collaboration with UnoTelos represents a pivotal moment in the digital transformation journey across Africa. By integrating Niral Networks’ advanced Private 5G and Edge AI technologies with UnoTelos’ profound system integration capabilities and market insights, we are not just deploying telecom infrastructure—we are engineering ecosystems for innovation. This partnership is strategically designed to address the continent’s most critical connectivity challenges, enabling industries from mining to oil & gas to leapfrog technological barriers and compete on a global scale,” said Abhijit Chaudhary, Founder & CEO of Niral Networks.
Strategic Focus and Initial Deployments
The initial partnership will concentrate on pilot projects across key strategic sectors, including:
- Mining
- Oil and Gas
- Manufacturing
- Shipping & Ports
- Aviation & Airports
- Logistics & Warehousing
The modular design of NiralOS Private 5G and Edge provides the flexibility to customize solutions that meet the unique requirements of each industry, ensuring efficient and targeted deployment.
Technological Innovation and Market Differentiation
By leveraging NiralOS Private 5G and Edge, UnoTelos is positioning itself at the forefront of telecommunications innovation. The partnership enables enterprises in Nigeria to access advanced connectivity solutions that were previously unavailable or prohibitively expensive.
Key technological advantages include:
- Secure and reliable private network infrastructure
- Low-latency communication
- Scalable edge computing capabilities
- Tailored solutions for specific industry needs
Economic and Developmental Impact
The partnership is expected to catalyse digital transformation across multiple sectors. Potential applications include smart factory solutions, enhanced remote operations, and sophisticated IoT-enabled systems that can dramatically improve operational efficiency and competitiveness.
Future Outlook
Looking ahead, UnoTelos and Niral Networks envision expanding their collaboration, with plans to:
- Increase deployment scope
- Develop more advanced connectivity solutions
- Support the development of Private 5G & EDGE infrastructure
- Advance critical sectors like telemedicine and autonomous systems
Since Friday, December 27, 2024, when Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, announced an increase in its monthly subscription prices across Nigeria, effective immediately for new customers and starting January 27, 2025, for existing users, the industry regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is yet to react officially.
In an email to its subscribers on Friday, the company stated that the price adjustments are necessary to enhance its network infrastructure and maintain the delivery of high-quality internet service across the country.
The new pricing structure is as follows: Standard (Residential) ₦75,000, Mobile – Regional (Roam Unlimited) ₦167,000, and Mobile – Global (Global Roam) ₦717,000.
“These changes reflect our commitment to investing in the infrastructure needed to support and improve your experience with Starlink,” the company said.
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