Telcos Get 383m New Numbers from NCC

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has provided 382.94 million new telephone numbers for the use of telecommunications operators, according to the NCC’s Q1 2021 National Numbering Plan released on Friday.

The commission assigned the numbers to 34 licensed telecom operators in the first quarter of 2021.

The numbering plan is used to allocate a unique national number to each subscriber connected to the national telephone system.

According to the NCC, the purpose of the NNP is to set up a uniform numbering scheme and the associated dialling procedures to be used in the network to allow subscribers and operators to set up calls.

Some of the operators with national and state licences listed are 21st Century Technologies, Airtel Networks, Big Picture Nigeria, Intercellular Nigeria Limited, EMTS Limited (9 Mobile), Globacom, iPNX Nigeria Limited and MTN Nigeria Communications.

The states and cities where some of these telephone lines would be used by the operators include Lagos, Abuja, Abeokuta, Warri, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt, Uyo, Ijebu-Ode, Benin, Asaba, Zaria, Ibadan, Onitsha, Akwa, Aba, Owerri, among others.

A 100 million new lines were assigned to Airtel Networks to be used nationally, while 50 million new numbers were assigned to EMTS Limited (9Mobile)  nationally as well.

Globacom Limited was allocated 46,000 new telephone numbers to use in Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Ode, Abeokuta, Benin, Warri, Asaba, Kaduna, Kano, Minna, Zaria and Port Harcourt. Glo Mobile, a subsidiary of Globacom, was given 70 million new lines for nationwide use.

MTN (Mobile Lines) was assigned 123 million new telephone numbers for national use, while MTN (fmr Visafone) was given 9.05 million new numbers for different states. MTN Nig. Comm Plc (Fixed Lines) had 25,000 lines for Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Ilorin, Warri, Kaduna, Aba, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Yenagoa.