Telecom
NCC Slams N647m Fines on GSM Operators over Poor Service
Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) on Monday slammed a total fine of N647.5 million on Airtel, Globacom and MTN Nigeria, the three major GSM service providers for failing to meet the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for quality of service in the month of January 2014.
In other words, the services they provided for the period fell below expectation with dropped calls; and incomplete calls.
NCC has also barred Airtel, Globacom and MTN Nigeria from selling SIM Cards.
According to Reuben Muoka, head, Media & Public Relations (NCC), consequently, the three companies have been barred from selling SIM Cards with effect from March 1 to 31, and are also barred from all promotions in their networks until they improve on the failed KPIs for which they are sanctioned.
The details of the sanction showed that Airtel Network Ltd, and MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd, are to pay a fine of N185 Million each while Globacom Ltd is liable to the tune of N277,500.
In addition, each of the operators must pay the sanction amount on or before March 7, 2014, failure upon which each will be liable to pay N2,500,000 per day as long as the contravention persists.
He said that the sanctions, which were communicated to the three operators in a letter signed by Dr. Eugene Juwah, executive vice chairman of the Commission, explained that the Commission will carry out an audit of the three companies on March 1, 2014 and also on March 31st, 2014, to ensure that no sale of new SIM Cards takes place in any of the three networks within the period.
The letter made reference to an earlier directive of December 10, 2014, which warned the operators that “if the Quality of Service does not improve by 31st December, 2013, the Commission will be compelled to direct operators to, among others, suspend the activation of new SIMs and subscribers until such an operator can prove that it has met the Key Performance Indicators specified in the Regulations”.
According to Dr. Juwah, “The Commission after careful collation of statistics from the Network Operating Centres, NOC, of all major networks operators for the month of January 2014, has concluded that the service provided by some of the operators during the period fell below the Key Performance Indicators published by the Commission in the Quality of Service Regulations, as amended”.
Details of the sanction also indicated that Airtel failed on Call Setup Success Rate, CSSR, and SDCONG, while MTN failed on Call Setup Success Rate , CSSR and Drop Call Rate, DCR. On its part, Globacom failed on Call Setup Success Rate, CSSR, Drop Call Rate, DCR, and SDCONG.
The Key highlights of the sanction are that the concerned operators must adhere to the following conditions: 1. Payment of the fines shall be on or before March 7, 2014.
2. Failure to settle the said amount within the stipulated period, the operators shall continue to be liable to pay the sum of N2,500,000 ( Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira Only) per day for as long as the contravention persist.
3. To stop the sale of new SIM Cards throughout the month of March 2014, with effect from March 1 to 31, 2014.
4. The Service Providers shall not churn or delete inactive or ( None revenue generating SIMs) from their networks during the period of March 1 to 31, 2014.
5. The Service Providers shall not supply new SIM Cards from their warehouses or other sources to its Dealers or third parties throughout the period from March 1-31, 2014.
6. The Service Providers shall stop all promotions until the KPIs which have been identified in their respective networks are positively addressed.
The directive further warned that “any deviation or alteration of provisioning pattern ( in terms of average daily number of provisioning) in the remaining days of February 2014 compared to the regular provisioning rates by the concerned service providers shall be construed as a breach to the Direction.
Telecom
Celebrating African Creativity: Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ Returns for Its Fifth Year
The “Made by Africa, Loved by the World” campaign is back for its fifth year, celebrating African creativity and global influence. This year’s theme, “Where Culture Meets Connection,” highlights how social media fosters conversations around cultural moments worldwide.
The campaign features three cinematic films premiering on the Meta Africa page, showcasing the groundbreaking work and personal stories of six dynamic African creatives.
These artists, from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa, represent diverse disciplines, including rap, animation, dance, photography, fashion, and videography.
Here are some of the featured talents:
- Ladipoe (Nigeria) – A BET-nominated rapper known for blending global hip-hop with African rhythms.
- Fatboy Animations (Kenya) – An animation studio founded by Michael Muthiga, recognized by Forbes for its original African storytelling.
- Lisa Quama (Ghana) – A dancer who gained fame after appearing in Beyoncé’s “Already” music video.
- Gilbert Asante (Ghana) – A photographer and creative director featured in GQ and Glam Africa.
- David Tlale (South Africa) – A fashion designer whose bold designs have been showcased at major fashion events, including the Met Gala.
- Ofentse Mwase (South Africa) – A filmmaker with over 24 international awards for his unique visual storytelling.
Kezia Anim-Addo, Communications Director for Africa, Middle East & Turkey, emphasized that the campaign not only celebrates individual success stories but also showcases how culture and social media drive meaningful connections and inspiration.
Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), has raised the alarm over a diesel supply crisis caused by an ongoing strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Mr Tony Emoekpere, president, ATCON in a statement said that the fuel supply disruption is critically affecting telecom base stations, pushing them to the brink of a shutdown and threatening millions of mobile and internet users in the region.
“This strike, which stems from the persistent harassment of tanker and petroleum product drivers by police officers in Lagos State, has effectively halted all truck loading operations and fuel movements,” Emoekpere stated.
He explained that diesel supply to telecom infrastructure has been severely impacted, leaving critical sites with dangerously low fuel levels.
According to him, if urgent measures are not taken, the situation could escalate into a full-blown network blackout, disrupting essential services, including mobile and internet access, business operations, emergency response systems, and daily communications.
ATCON has called on the governors of Lagos and Ogun states to intervene immediately by facilitating the release of diesel from depots to telecom operators to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
“This is not just a telecom issue—it is a national emergency that could cripple economic activities and compromise public safety,” Emoekpere stressed.
The association also appealed to security agencies and petroleum unions to resolve the crisis swiftly to safeguard Nigeria’s connectivity and economic stability.
ATCON emphasised that a prolonged disruption in fuel supply to telecom infrastructure could have far-reaching consequences for both businesses and individuals who rely on stable communication networks for daily operations.
In 2023, Nigerians spent a total of about ₦5.3 trillion on telecommunications services, which includes calls, data, SMS, and other telecom services, according to the Leadership.
Specifically for voice calls, Nigerians made approximately 408.5 billion minutes of local calls, generating around ₦3.28 trillion from outgoing calls and ₦3.23 trillion from incoming calls, totaling about ₦6.51 trillion in call-related revenue according to projections based on 2023 call volumes and tariff data.
However, the ₦5.3 trillion figure represents the overall telecom sector revenue, with voice calls being a major component but also including data and other services.
For individual spending, MTN subscribers spent an average of ₦2,508 monthly on voice calls in 2023, showing a 14.4% increase from 2022, while Airtel customers spent about ₦1,694 monthly on voice calls.
Total telecom spending (calls, data, SMS, etc.): ₦5.3 trillion in 2023
Estimated revenue from voice calls alone: around ₦6.5 trillion based on call minutes and tariffs
Average monthly spending on calls per subscriber: ₦1,694 to ₦2,508 depending on the network
Toll Collection on Lagos-Calabar Highway Begins December
NGX Clears Fidelity Bank MD of Insider Trading Allegations
CBN Introduces AML to Fight Financial Terrorism, Gives Banks Deadline
Peter Obi Denies Secret Meeting with Tinubu over Fidelity Bank
Luft Pay TV Launches in Lagos, Promises to Revolutionize Entertainment
Telecom3 days agoTelcos Warn of Nationwide Telecom Blackout over Diesel Shortage
E-Financial3 days agoCBN, SEC Fine Access Holdings N1.21Bn for Infractions
Telecom3 days agoNigerians Spend N5.3 Trillion on Telecom Services
E-Financial3 days agoFirst Asset Management Launches N100 Billion Infrastructure Fund to Provide Sustainable Capital for Infrastructural Development Across Sectors
News3 days agoKaspersky Uncovers Dero Crypto Miner Spreading via Exposed Container Environments
Telecom3 days ago13 New Things Google Launched at I/O 2025
General News3 days agoIFC, Standard Chartered Expand Lending in Local Currencies
Broadcasting3 days agoCanal+ Buyout Of South Africa’s MultiChoice one Step Closer