Telecom Subscribers Want Resume Ban on Promos, Lotteries

National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS), has called for resumption of ban on telecommunications promos and lotteries, to ensure improved service.

Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, national president of the body said that the lifting of the ban on promos by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had worsened the service by the providers.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that NCC had lifted the ban on lotteries and promos on April 12, since the operators met the Commission’s December 2012 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

The NATCOMS chief told the News Agency of Nigeria that promos and lotteries were still causing congestion from the telecom operators, thereby affecting the quality of service across the networks.

He said that subscribers had not enjoyed uninterrupted service from telecommunications operators since the lifting of the ban in April by the NCC.

Ogunbanjo said that promotions could resume when the operators stabilised the networks to the required capacities.

``However, we cannot compromise good quality for promos; we prefer good quality services than promos. So, there is nothing wrong if NCC should resume the ban on them.

``Subscribers do need compensation and we are talking about airtime; airtime compensation of N5,000 each; that will be a little succour to compensate for the poor service.

``Where the NCC fines and it is only the government that reaps the benefits, without any direct benefit to the subscribers, is not tidy.

``We are presently demanding N5,000 for subscribers on every network particularly Glo, MTN, Airtel and Etisalat.

``You hardly can make a call of 25 to 30 seconds without uninterrupted network problem.

``You will definitely be lucky to get through the network without saying ‘hello, hello’,” Ogunbanjo said.

He said that although the subscribers were the ones enjoying the promos and lotteries, it was currently congesting the network.

``I urge NCC to further resume ban until such a time that the network operators actually improve the quality of service.''