Atcon Calls for Fake Phones Switch off, NCC Warns Dealers

Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (Atcon) has asked the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) to compel telecommunications operators to switch off all fake and substandard mobile phones in a bid to eradicate them from circulation.

NCC however said that it would visit mobile phones and equipment vendors with harsh punitive measures if they fail to comply with standard regulations framework within the next two week.

Counterfeit phones are copies of popular brands and models made from sub-standard materials and are not licensed by the NCC.

Though reliable statistics are hard to come by, it is believed that more than half of all phones in the country are fake or sub-standard.

Lanre Ajayi, president, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria said that any device that is not type approved by the NCC should not be used on the any network.

Ajayi urged NCC to find a way to ensure that such devices, including phones are not allowed to work on any network in the country.

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered there are technologies which allow fake phones to be switched off and barred from receiving; making calls; or carrying other network activities.

The technologies bar only the phones as sim cards can still be transferred to genuine mobiles and no data will be lost.

A mobile phone is also deemed fake if its IMEI number - the unique identifier for each phone - is not recognised by an international database.

Dr. Alex Ukwuani, an ICT security expert said that fake phones have both safety and security perspectives

“A criminal can use fake mobile phone to perpetuate crime and it will be difficult for the security agencies to trace the culprit” he added.

But in a renewed bid to protect consumers from substandard phones and other devices; NCC has warned companies  still flouting its regulation on type-approval for all telecom devices and equipment to stop forthwith or face the consequences.

The NCC has previously shut down mobile phone vendors over distribution and sale of non-type approved devices in the country.

The Commission accused vendors of endangering lives of consumers with substandard mobile devices.

Tony Ojobo, director of public affairs at the Commission said in media advertorials that “mobile handsets and other telecommunication equipment/devices which have not been type approved by the Commission are being advertised for sale in some national dailies.”

Consequently, the Commission has issued a “14 days pre-enforcement and warning notice.”  The notice which took effect from Monday, November 26 notified that all “all dealers/companies or persons to immediately ensure all telecommunications devices are type approved” by it before they offered for sale in the open market.

Ojobo stated that the Commission has the enforcement right to arrest and prosecute offenders. They also threaten to “confiscate devices that are not type approved.”

Last February, the Commission shut down 17 firms in the Lagos ‘Compute Village’ taunted as the largest ICT market in the African continent.

Idehen Efosa, head of enforcement, NCC who led a team of staffers and security personnel to the raids said the Commission began clampdown of the offending firms in 2011; and noted that it was an effort to rid the country of fake and substandard mobile equipment.

Nigeria’s mobile subscribers are always eager to buy devices, but are also conscious of cost. Severally, they turn to cheap mobile handsets and devices from China and other South East Asian countries like Thailand and Indonesia.

The Commission notes that several of the devices have health risk and needed to be certified as it was responsible for the consumers’ health too.