Telecom
NCC Urges to Students to Report Telcos who Fail to Address their Problems
Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) has advised students to always report network providers who refused to address their problems to the commission.
Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, NCC
Efosa Idehen, director, Consumer Affairs Bureau of NCC, advised the students at the weekend at Nsukka, Enugu State.
Ideen spoke during the third edition of the Telecom Campus Conversation at the University of Nigeria Nsukka.
The conversation was themed: “Telecom Consumer Rights Awareness: The Role of Students.”
Idehen said the aim of the campus conversation was to educate students who were important consumers of telecommunication services on their rights and how to resolve problems with their network providers.
He said: “Subscribers of network providers are kings in telecommunication industry since without them there will neither be network providers nor NCC.
“Problem of subscribers is that most times they do not know how to go about issues they have with their network subscribers.”
The Director explained to students some of the ways to resolve network problems either with their network providers or with NCC.
He said: “It is your right that any problem you have as a consumer must be resolved with your network provider.
“But if you tried and your network could not solve your problem, call 622, NCC toll free line and report such problem.
“NCC will immediately get in touch with the affected network provider to know why it has refused to resolve your problem.
“NCC may fine such provider if the commission discovers that the provider deliberately ignored the subscriber’s complain.
“Some subscribers complain of their providers bombarding them with unsolicited messages without knowing that when they sent STOP to 2442 to their provider such unsolicited messages will stop.”
According to Idehen, subscribers are expected to call 112 toll free line in case of any emergency to get help from security agencies in the country.
In her remarks, Mistura Aruna, head, Consumer Information and Education Unit, NCC, said the Forum was one of the various consumer-center initiatives of NCC targeted at creating awareness for students of tertiary institution on their rights and obligations as telecom consumers.
Aruna said: “One of the aims of this initiative is to sensitise students on several measures which have been put in place for the purpose of consumer protection and empowerment.
“UNN is selected by the commission for the third edition of the programme because it is the first indigenous and autonomous university in Nigeria.
“The university’s motto: ‘To Restore the Dignity of Man,’ adequately reflects the mind of the commission as consumer protection, information and education is pivotal on the commission’s mandate.”
In a message to the event, Prof Charles Igwe, the Vice Chancellor of the UNN, represented by Prof. Eze Okonkwo, the Dean of Post-Graduate Studies, commended the commission for choosing the university for the programme.
Speaking on behalf of the students, Stephen Ani, the Student Union President of the UNN, thanked the NCC for choosing the university for the third edition of the campus conversation.
Ani said: “It’s my hope that NCC presence in UNN will help improve some network challenges the students are facing as well as help resolve their problems with their various network providers.”
NCC used the occasion to educate students on consumer protection, SIM registration, SIM-NIN linkage, cyber-security as well as how to be safe online by avoiding any internet fraud, among other things.
MTN Nigeria Communications PLC has announced that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved the renewal of the spectrum lease agreement between MTN Nigeria and Natcom Development and Investment Limited (NTEL).
Uto Ukpanah, Company Secretary in a statement released recently said that the agreement covers the lease of NTEL’s 5MHz frequency division duplex (FDD) in the 900MHz spectrum band and 10MHz FDD in the 1800MHz spectrum band, which spans 19 states.
The renewal is for another two-year period, effective 1 May 2025. Additionally, the NCC has approved a one-year lease expansion of the spectrums, covering the remaining 17 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), effective 1 January 2025.
Commenting on the transactions, MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola said, “We are pleased with the renewal of the spectrum lease agreement with NTEL, which now includes coverage for all states, including the FCT.
“The lease enables us to enhance our 3G and 4G user experience as we improve coverage and capacity by utilising the spectrums.
“This positions us to capitalise on the growing demand for data and improve the delivery of services to our customers.”
Nigeria’s technology company, Globacom, has extended warm felicitations to Nigerians on the occasion of the 2024 Christmas celebrations.
In a goodwill message released in Lagos, Globacom urged Nigerians to embrace the spirit of love and kindness during the festive season, especially in the face of prevailing economic challenges.
The company emphasized the importance of practicing the teachings of Jesus Christ, particularly the virtues of obedience to God and loving one’s neighbor as well.
“Christ taught many virtues including obedience to God and loving one’s neighbour as oneself”, the company said, adding, “Now is the apt time to practise these teachings by sharing with the needy”.
Globacom also encouraged Nigerians to extend the conviviality of Christmas beyond the festive season by fostering love, peace, and harmony, as demonstrated by God through the birth of Jesus Christ.
Assuring its customers of uninterrupted services throughout the Yuletide period and beyond, Globacom urged them to take advantage of its innovative products and services to stay connected and share the memories of the season with loved ones.
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have ordered Deposit Money Banks and Mobile Network Operators to settle the long-standing N250bn USSD debt dispute before January 2, 2025.
The CBN and NCC also directed banks to pay the pre-Application Programming Interfaces (API) debt before July 2, 2025.
They also ordered that post-API debts be settled before December 31, 2024.
The directive was issued in a joint cirular titled, “2nd Joint Circular of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission on the Resolution of the USSD Debt Issue Between Deposit Money Banks and Mobile Network Operators.”
The circular dated December 20, 2024, was signed by Oladimeji Taiwo, acting director of the Payments System Management Department, CBN, and Chizua Whyte, head of Legal and Regulatory Services, NCC.
The regulators said, “In view of the foregoing, the CBN and the NCC hereby direct DMBs and MNOs as follows: 1. That 60 per cent of all pre-API invoices must be paid as full and final settlement.
“Payment plans (lump sum or installments) must be agreed upon between a concerned DMB and MNO by January 2, 2025. Installments must be based on equal monthly payments, with full payment due by July 2, 2025.
“DMBs must pay 85 per cent of all outstanding invoices issued after the implementation of APIs (i.e., February 2022) by December 31, 2024.
“Similarly, 85 per cent of future invoices must be liquidated within one month of service.”
According to the regulators, the transition to end-user billing will be activated only for DMBs and MNOs that comply with the payment conditions cobtained in the circular.
CBN and the NCC said they would provide further guidance on public enlightenment initiatives related to the transition.
The regulators also directed MNOs to implement the “10-seconds rule” for USSD invoicing.
This implies that any session lasting less than ten seconds will not be billable.
The regulators added, “Failure to comply with the terms outlined in this directive will attract necessary sanctions, ensuring that both DMBs and MNOs uphold their obligations.”
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