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NCC Seals 4 Illegal Telecoms Firms

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Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has clamped down on Steam Communications, Netcom, SwiftTalk and Multi-dimesnion Technologies all located in Lagos for illegally using the unlicensed 5.4 GHz frequency band,.

Before now, the telecom regulator had warned internet service providers and other companies illegally occupying the spectrum to discontinue use of such or face the consequences.

The illegal operators were discovered during a four-day enforcement exercise started on Tuesday in Lagos by the Compliance and Enforcement team of NCC led by Mr Salisu Abdu, assistant director at the Commission.

Three more illegal operators are being hunted by the NCC team with expectation that their identity would have been discovered by Friday (tomorrow) when the NCC enforcement team would round off the exercise.

All the seven operators are said to be operating on the 5.4 gigahertz frequency band which was not licensed to them by the Commission.

Addressing media during the enforcement exercise in Lagos, Abdu said the operations of the telecoms firms was an offence under Section 122 of the Nigerian Communication Act 2003, which criminalises any operation without proper licensing by the NCC.

He explained that ‎in 2009, NCC came up with a guideline on the deployment of service on the 5.4Ghz band that no operator should operate on it without obtaining necessary licences from the NCC.

He said: “In the course of the guideline, we have monitored compliance and we have discovered that we still had some operators operating illegally on the 5.4GHz till 2012. We have done a lot of clean-up and we thought the frequency was free of interferences.

“So, after recent monitoring by the Spectrum Administration Department of NCC, about seven operators are now discovered to be operating on the 5.4Ghz band.

“On Tuesday, we visited Steam Communications Company and we found there were operating on the 5.4GHz ‎band and as result, we confiscated their radio equipment and they are currently under investigation.”

Abdu said at the end of the investigation, Steam Communications would be prosecuted and fined appropriately.

He said the enforcement team yesterday also discovered Netcom, Multi-dimension and SwiftTalk collocating their equipment on a telecom mast belonging to a licensed inter- connect clearing operator.

“Currently, we have removed the power ‎units, which the three tenant companies are using to power their service. We have asked them to remove the actual radio equipment from the mast which they are handing over to the Commission and investigation would be carried out accordingly” he said.

Abdu, however, said that the mast owner, which houses the three telecoms firms on its network was not culpable, saying “the mast owner is not any under obligation to make findings on whether or not the three companies are licensed by the NCC or not.”

He said this was because each operator is licensed separately by the regulator with terms and conditions of their licences clearly stated. “So, they ought to have complained with all the terms and conditions of their licences and the relationship between the mast owner and the three firms is a different thing entirely as the mast owner only rented space to the illegal operators.”

Meanwhile, the Assistant Director who informed that the guideline on 5.4Ghz spectrum band clearly stipulates conditions for commercial and private use of the frequency band, said that by Friday (tomorrow), the enforcement team hoped to have tracked down the other three illegal operators on the 5.4GHz.

He warned licensees in the telecoms sector to always comply with their ‎licensing conditions, stressing that indulging in illegal operations is capable of creating unnecessary interferences in telecoms services delivery which ultimately affect telecoms consumers.


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QNET Named ‘Direct Selling Company of the Year’ at AfriTECH 4.0 Awards

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QNET, a leading global lifestyle and wellness direct selling company, has been honored with the prestigious “Direct Selling Company of the Year” award at the recent AfriTECH 4.0 Conference and Awards.

This recognition underscores QNET’s significant contributions to financial inclusion and e-commerce in Africa.

The award was presented to QNET by Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi, Co-Convener of AfriTech & ATAEx Awards. Onwuegbuchi commended QNET for its unwavering commitment to empowering individuals and driving economic growth across the continent.

He highlighted the company’s innovative approach to direct selling, coupled with its focus on financial literacy and digital innovation.

Biram Fall, Regional Manager for QNET Sub-Saharan Africa, expressed his gratitude for the recognition.

He emphasized QNET’s dedication to innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation in Africa.

Fall highlighted the company’s impact on the Nigerian economy, particularly through its advanced technology and robust e-commerce platform.

“QNET’s participation in this event further solidified its position as a key player in the region’s digital transformation journey.

“We are committed to staying in Nigeria, our biggest market in Sub-Saharan Africa, and contributing to the region’s development,” Fall stated.

During his keynote speech, Fall underscored QNET’s commitment to empowering individuals through knowledge and skill development.

He highlighted the FinGreen financial literacy program, which has already trained over 1,350 young people in Nigeria to make informed financial decisions.

Fall also emphasized the potential of direct selling to drive economic growth in Africa. “Our e-commerce-driven direct-selling model provides opportunities for income generation across more than 100 countries, helping individuals pursue their goals while contributing to community growth,” he explained.

Addressing the challenges of limited banking infrastructure and cash dependency in Africa, Fall stressed the importance of financial inclusion for e-commerce growth.

He called for collaboration to accelerate financial inclusion and e-commerce growth in Africa, fostering a financially inclusive future for the continent.


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Martin Ekpeke Honored with Digital Reporting Excellence Award @ATAEx

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Martin Ekpeke, Managing Editor of ITPulse, a leading Nigerian online Information and Communications Technology (ICT) news platform, was awarded the prestigious Digital Reporting Excellence Award at the Africa Tech Alliance Excellence (ATAEx) Awards.

The award, presented by Tech Castle Foundation, recognizes Ekpeke’s exceptional coverage of cyber threats, digital privacy, and the evolving online security landscape.

“We are thrilled to honor Martin Ekpeke with the Digital Reporting Excellence Award.

“His insightful reporting has been instrumental in raising awareness about critical digital issues and empowering individuals and organizations to stay informed and protected,” said Chike Onwuegbuchi from Tech Castle Foundation.

Ekpeke expressed his gratitude for the recognition, stating, “I am deeply honored to receive this award.

“It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire ITPulse team.

“We are committed to delivering high-quality, informative content that empowers our readers to navigate the complex digital world.”

The Africa Tech Alliance Excellence (ATAEx) Awards celebrate individuals, businesses, and institutions driving digital transformation in Africa.

This year’s event brought together tech enthusiasts, regulators, and other key stakeholders in the Nigerian ICT ecosystem.


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NCC Calls on Judiciary to Champion Nigeria’s Digital Transformation

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Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has emphasized the judiciary’s crucial role in Nigeria’s digital transformation. During the Annual Workshop for Judges on Legal Issues in Telecommunications, Executive Vice Chairman Aminu Maida highlighted the judiciary’s reliance on digital tools to enhance justice delivery.

He stressed the need for special protections for telecommunication infrastructure, which faces disruptions from vandalism, theft, and restricted access.

Maida called for judicial support to implement the Presidential Order designating telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure.

This order prohibits unauthorized actions against such infrastructure without a lawful court order.

The judiciary’s role in protecting fundamental rights, enforcing digital contracts, and developing digital jurisprudence is vital for Nigeria’s digital transformation.

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, commended the NCC’s efforts to protect consumers from unfair practices and emphasized the judiciary’s commitment to the telecommunications sector.

She highlighted concerns such as cybersecurity risks, consumer data protection, and the need for improved dispute resolution frameworks within the digital economy.

The workshop aims to equip judicial officers with the technical expertise required to address emerging legal challenges in telecommunications.

Nigeria’s digital economy has significant growth potential, with projected revenues of $18.30 billion by 2026, expected to create employment opportunities, reduce poverty, and promote innovation.

The NCC is working with key stakeholders to ensure the seamless implementation of the Presidential Order and to keep Nigeria competitive in the global digital economy.


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