Telecom
NCC’s InfraCo Policy Meant to Promote Local Investments – Danbatta
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is vigorously promoting local investment in digital infrastructure and competition in the provision of accessible high speed broadband infrastructure, according to Professor Umar Danbatta, executive vice chairman of the Commission.
Prof Umar Danbatta, EVC, NCC
The EVC made the remark in his keynote addresses titled: “Establishing Rules and Laws for the Effective Implementation of Local Content Promotion Policy in the National Telecoms Sector”, at the inaugural edition of Policy Implementation Assisted Forum (Piafo-001) on National Policy for Promotion of Indigenous Content in the Nigerian Telecommunications Sector held recently.
Danbatta, who described ‘Indigenous Content Policy’ as generally refers to “any policy that encourages the development of indigenous skills, technology transfer, use of indigenous manpower and indigenous manufacturing”, said that with advancements in technology, administrations have come to recognise the need for their indigenes to participate actively in exploitation and transformation of their resources into goods and services aimed at economic growth.
“As we are all aware, the Federal Government has put in place very robust policy and legal framework for local content within the oil and gas sector. Similarly, the advent of local content in the Nigerian Telecoms sector is probably as old as the Nigerian telecoms revolution itself.
The National Telecommunications Policy (Cap 13, National Telecom Policy 2000), posited that the domestic production of telecommunications hardware and software is desirable for national development.
It further states that, Government shall encourage domestic production of telecommunications equipment, components and software to meet local and export demands”, he said.
He said that in giving legal backing to the above policy direction, the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 identifies, as one of its primary objects the encouragement of local and foreign investments in the Nigerian communications industry.
“With the steady evolution of Telecommunications in Nigeria, the industry and its infrastructure are appreciated as the infrastructure of infrastructures, positioned to drive growth and efficiency in every other sector (both private and public) by supporting the optimization of institutions and processes in the ecosystem. Accordingly, the development of effective local participation at all levels of the value chain becomes a sine-qua-non to the overarching national economic development and market success”.
While giving updates on Indigenous Content Valorization in the Nigerian telecom industry, the EVC said that the Federal Government recently reinforced the local content agenda by putting in place Executive Order 003 of 2017 and Executive Order 005 of 2018 titled Support for Local Content in Public Procurement by the Federal Government and Development of Local Content in Science, Engineering and Technology respectively.
“The Commission instituted several measures and strategies towards ensuring compliance by the industry to the aforementioned Executive Orders, these include building local capacity through various initiatives and innovations which are aimed at encouraging digital skills and entrepreneurship as well as building local investment (infrastructure).
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.”
NCDC Activates Emergency Response as Lassa Fever Kills 190
CBN Disqualifies 41.65m Shares in Access Holdings Rights Issue
2025 Budget: FG Earmarks N1.5Bn for Airports’ Internet, Others
World Bank Raises Nigeria’s NIN Target to 180m
MTN Nigeria Renews Spectrum Lease Agreement with NTEL
UBA Group Sets Foot in France with Full Banking Services
FG Begins N50 Electronic Levy Deductions from Moniepoint, Other Digital Banks
Report Reveals Most Organisations Fear AI-driven Cyberattacks but Lack Key Defences
Nigeria Risks Missing out on $1.2 Trillion AI Opportunity- NigComSat
Firm Sues NIMC, Others On Digital Rights Breach Allegations
Telecom2 days agoAirtel Africa to Return $100m to Shareholders via Share Buyback
Broadcasting1 day agoSpotify’s ‘Detty December’ Hub and Spotify’s ‘Songs of December’ now live
Broadcasting1 day agoQNET Collaborates with Lagos Food Bank to Aid Vulnerable Children
News2 days agoEgueke, Former Bank Manager Jailed for $46,900 Fraud
Telecom2 days agoFG Gives Banks, Telcos Six-Month Deadline to Resolve N250Bn USSD Debt
Telecom2 days agoNCC Launches Initiative to Combat Fraud, Spam Messaging
Broadcasting1 day agoNERC Discloses $5.7 Million Debt Owed by International Customers for Q3 2024 Electricity Supply
Broadcasting2 days agoAfrica Magic Announces Call for Entries for 11th AMVCA