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Tag: NCC

  • BREAKING: NCC suspends approval granted MTN to disconnect Glo

    BREAKING: NCC suspends approval granted MTN to disconnect Glo

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has suspended for 21 days the approval granted to MTN Nigeria to disconnect Glo due to interconnection debt dispute.

    NCC stated that both mobile network operators are expected to resolve all outstanding issues within the 21-day period.

    Recall that on January 8, 2024 the telecoms regulatory commission had published a pre-disconnection notice informing subscribers of the approval granted to MTN to commence a phased disconnection of Globacom with effect from January 18, 2024 due to long-standing interconnection debt dispute between the parties.

    In granting the approval, NCC disclosed it was deeply conscious of the potential impacts of the decision on consumers and therefore continued to engage both parties to facilitate a resolution which prioritises and protects consumer interest and the seamless operation of the national telecoms network.

    According to a statement by Reuben Mouka, NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, both parties have now reached an agreement to resolve all outstanding issues between them.

    “For this reason, and in exercise of its regulatory powers in that regard, the Commission has put the phased disconnection on hold for a period of 21 (twenty-one) days from today, 17 January, 2024.

    “Whilst the Commission expects MTN and Glo to resolve all outstanding issues within the 21-day period, the Commission insists that interconnect debts must be settled by all operating companies as a necessary component towards compliance with regulatory obligations of all licensees,” the statement reads.

    NCC insisted in the statement that mobile network operators in the country and other licensees in the telecom industry are under obligation to keep to the terms and conditions of their licences, especially as contained in their interconnection agreements.

  • All that talk about MTN and Globacom – By Okoh Aihe

    All that talk about MTN and Globacom – By Okoh Aihe

    What should be a normal business dispute between two mobile operators, MTN and Globacom, has provided a fertile ground for pseudo patriots and even ignoramus to spew all kinds of comments that can further poison relationships in the industry. For most of these people, and you will marvel that some of them actually fall into the elite category, Glo is a Nigerian operator and must be protected by all means irrespective of the cause of the dispute.

    I am not so persuaded by their position. In a business relationships things can boil over. It is the responsibility of the concerned parties to sort themselves and resume their relationship or call it quits forever. In telecoms, it is much easier to pick a needle from the bottom of the ocean than to crash relationships. And that is why the regulator is there to do a job. A damn good regulator knows what to do per time because it bears the responsibility to protect the integrity of the industry as well as ensure that services are seamlessly good.

    Which is the reason I will give some credit to the regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for externalising the dispute between the two operators which ordinarily should be enjoying some ignoble comfort under the carpet. I will call what they did regulatory agility in getting the operators to address their differences and ensure responsible practices in the telecom ecosystem.

    In announcing the Pre-Disconnection Notice, the regulator in a statement signed by the Public Affairs Director, Reuben Muoka, said: “The Nigerian Communications Commission hereby notifies the public and subscribers of Globacom Limited (Globacom) that approval has been granted for the partial disconnection of Globacom from MTN Nigeria Communications PIc. (MTN), due to non-settlement of interconnect charges.”

    Basing its action on the provisions of Section 100 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 and Paragraph 9 of the Guidelines on Procedure for Granting Approval to

    Disconnect, NCC explained that it came to the decision after Glo refused to comment on the complaints by MTN. 

    Section 100 of NCA 2003 states: Notwithstanding the terms of any interconnection, a party thereto shall not at any time and in any circumstance disconnect or discontinue interconnection to any interconnectng party without the prior written approval of the Commission. 

    Telecommunications operators in the country maintain a complex relationship with each other through interconnection which process is superintended by the regulator through strict Regulations and Guidelines to ensure that operators respect each other on the platforms of technology and even the business end while providing very robust services. Under the NCC Guidelines no operator is allowed to deny another operator interconnection in order to guarantee interoperability in service provisioning. Every dispute must be reported to the regulator and that’s what MTN did.

    In taking a regulatory decision, NCC has said that at the expiration of 10 (ten) days from the date of this notice (January 8, 2024), subscribers of Globacom will no longer be able to make calls to MTN, but will be able to RECEIVE CALLS. The partial disconnection also allows inbound calls to Globacom network from MTN.

    For those with knowledge of the industry, this is not a light punishment. With 91.9million subscribers to Glo’s 60.3million, according to the January 2024 subscription data released by the regulator, MTN enjoys a notable dominant role in the nation’s telecommunications industry and this is duly recognised by NCC which has put some bind on MTN.

    This puts Glo in no good position at all. It means that calls from MTN can actually overwhelm the Glo network within this period while its subscribers can only carry out on-net activities within the period, should the service provider fail to act. Frustrated subscribers may be forced to migrate to other networks. I don’t expect Glo to aspire to that point of desolation. 

    But what really happened? There is something called Termination Rate which is the amount an operator pays to generate a call and land it or terminate it in another network. In Nigeria it stands at about N3.90 only. It means that for each call a Glo subscriber makes to MTN, Glo pays MTN N3.90, and vice versa. This is called Termination Rate based on interconnection. The reconciliation is usually done by the end of the month, and with tech support at the backend, this is not a difficult thing at all.

    This writer gathered that Globacom allowed payment to pile up over a time to the extent that it became a concern to MTN and even the regulator which had to resort to regulatory arm-wrestling as a last resort. 

    I am happy to announce that the partial disconnection may never happen as Globacom has paid a hefty amount to MTN, over a Billion Naira. Globacom has complied substantially but there remains some lingering issues of VAT and interest on the money. One would expect that such issues can be resolved by the two organisations without a third party intervention. 

    Here is my understanding of the matter. The relationship between MTN and Globacom is purely business and there is no criminality or shame in anybody owing in business. Especially in businesses as complicated as communications, where there are so many interconnections and handovers, there will always be the need for teams from parties in dispute to sit and resolve knotty payment issues. There was therefore no need for Globacom to release a statement saying they were not owing anybody; it was totally superfluous. After all, it has nothing to prove after two decades in getting into business which the promoters knew nothing about but has become a leader in some respects. 

    Having already stated that it was good for NCC to externalise the dispute in order to resolve what seemed an unnecessary situation, the question may then arise, was the NCC publication the most expedient thing to do? I don’t have the answer because I am not a regulator. But my little response will be that there is a debtor in the industry which the NCC, more than anybody, knows. What is being done to make this particular debtor operator return to the part of sanity and contribute meaningfully to the growth of the industry?

    I clearly agree that the NCC must take some actions to protect the industry. Without some hard decisions some faceless but very strategic service providers like the Interconnect Houses who bicycle calls for major operators may not have a future in the industry. Really, they and other service providers as well, need to be protected. 

    It is my suggestion that as far as regulation can permit, the regulator should put in place some lithe governance principles that can help monitor the health of the operators in the industry and also smoothen relationships between operators before they grow into festered concerns. 

    Eddie Amana, the man who never got angry

    It took a brief phone call last week for my friend to announce the departure of Edward Idris Amana, the Chairman of the DigiTeam. The call didn’t do me well and it made my environment hot immediately as I stood reflecting momentarily on the mystery of life and the way good men go.

    I have known Eddie since 1993 when he joined the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) from the NTA as Deputy Director in the Engineering Department. All that time, never once did I chance on him being angry or upset. He always carried a smile which the death of his wife over 20 years ago could not diminish. I was told by close friends that he carried the pain of that loss daily but buried it in such equanimity that told a different story.

    He grew the Engineering Department of the NBC and mentored a line of laudable engineers who would do the country well locally and internationally.

    On retiring from the NBC, Eddie returned to the NTA as the Executive Director, Engineering. He was a broadcast engineer without limits and enjoyed deserved respect within the International Telecommunications Union (ITU),Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (CBA) and at the international section of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). 

    Eddie was made the Chairman of the DigiTeam under the President Goodluck Jonathan administration, a body that was charged with the Digital Switchover (DSO) programme – the migration from analogue to digital broadcasting. He worked tirelessly to achieve results but politics was a major impediment. Other nations sought his knowledge but, at home, politicians and appointees of government, undermined his capacity to give the nation a fully digitised broadcast system. 

    Eddie managed the situation still with a smile. And now he is gone with his knowledge forever. BON says his death “has robbed the country of the encyclopaedia of broadcast digital migration.”

    His family has a reason to celebrate the passing of a good man and may his memory remain a blessing.

  • NCC grants approval to bar Glo customers from calling MTN

    NCC grants approval to bar Glo customers from calling MTN

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has granted partial approval to MTN Nigeria Communications Plc to disconnect Globacom due to non-settlement of interconnect charges.

    NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Dr Reuben Muoka, disclosed this in a public notice in Abuja on Monday.

    Mouka recalled that Globacom was notified of the application made by MTN and was given opportunity to comment and state its case.

    “The commission, having examined the application and circumstances surrounding the indebtedness, determined that Globacom does not have sufficient or justifiable reason for non-payment of the interconnect charges,” the notice reads.

    He stated that the partial approval for disconnection of Globacom to MTN was in accordance with Section 100 of NCC Act, 2003.

    According to him, it also goes with Paragraph 9 of the guidelines on procedure for granting approval to Disconnect Telecommunications Operators, 2012.

    “At the expiration of 10 days from the date of this notice, subscribers of Globacom will no longer be able to make calls to MTN, but will be able to receive calls.

    “The partial disconnection, however, will allow in-bound calls to Globacom network.

    “Please note that this disconnection will subsist until otherwise determined by the commission,” the notice added.

  • WRC-23: Nigeria signs updated radio regulations to deepen global connectivity

    WRC-23: Nigeria signs updated radio regulations to deepen global connectivity

    At the conclusion of the World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC) 2023, Nigeria joined the rest of the World to sign unto the Final Act WRC-23, which constitutes a record of the decisions taken at the conference.

    The Final Act comprises both the new and revised provisions of the Radio Regulations, an international treaty governing the use of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits.

    The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, represented Nigeria and was joined by the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida and the Managing Director, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat Ltd), Mrs. Jane Egerton-Idehen.

    The WRC-2023 is a global, inter-governmental treaty conference which is held every three to four years by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations-affiliated international organization for telecommunications.

    At the end of each conference, countries signed unto an updated Final Act, the outcome of agreements on agendas put forward by country administrations.

    According to a statement by the ITU, “the agreement to the updated Radio Regulations identifies new spectrum resources to support technological innovation, deepen global connectivity, increase access to and equitable use of space-based radio resources, and enhance safety at sea, in the air, and on land.”

    Among the decisions reached, the Conference also identified spectrum for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), which will be crucial for expanding broadband connectivity and developing IMT mobile services, also known as 4G, 5G and, in the future, 6G.

    The conference also identified new frequencies for non-geostationary fixed-satellite service Earth Stations in Motion (ESIMs) that would provide high-speed broadband onboard aircraft, vessels, trains, and vehicles. These satellite services are also critical following disasters where local communication infrastructure is damaged or destroyed.

    Provisions were also included to protect ship and aircraft mobile service stations located in international airspace and waters from other stations within national territories.

    Nigeria’s delegation at the conference comprised seasoned engineers and experts in telecommunications and satellite regulations and governance from the Ministry, NCC, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), NigComSat Ltd, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), telecom operators and other practitioners from the telecommunications industry in Nigeria.

    Meanwhile, Tijani, who led the Nigerian delegation at the WRC-23, thanked the delegation for their sacrifices which, he noted, were made for the collective benefit of the future of Nigeria.

    He also enjoined the Nigerian delegation to commence preparation for future conferences to ensure the preservation of the country’s interest by developing capacity through investments in extensive research and inter-agency collaboration.

    Also, during an engagement with the Nigerian delegation at the conference, Maida commended the delegation for collaborating towards Nigeria’s best interest. He emphasised the conference’s significant importance for Nigeria.

    According to him, “the agreements reached at this year’s conference will provide valuable spectrum resources that will benefit the Commission’s stakeholders, especially ordinary Nigerians by enhancing service quality and bridging the digital gap in rural areas.

    “Additionally, the establishment of international standards for radiocommunications and the decisions made at the conference will impact the development and implementation of new technologies.

    “These outcomes align with Nigeria’s overall objectives and the Honorable Minister’s Strategic Plan for the Ministry particularly on expanding broadband connectivity, in harmony with the global transition to 5G and future 6G technologies, as well as improving quality of experience and providing equitable access to all Nigerians.”

  • Between two young minds, a pledge to revamp the telecoms industry – By Okoh Aihe

    Between two young minds, a pledge to revamp the telecoms industry – By Okoh Aihe

    The story of their meeting excited me. In my mind’s eyes, I have always pictured two friends meeting, not a boss and a subordinate, but two friends with corresponding minds and interests but also with transcendental knowledge of the millennial generation on tech issues, to discuss the fate of an industry and a regulatory agency which one of them would describe as important and relevant in achieving the nation’s digital aspiration.

    My excitement derives from the homogeneity of two young minds tackling the fate of an industry which has largely remained in the hands of some elderly predecessors who were more measured on issues relating to risks and industry development. But the elders did well.

    Time has come for a baton change and another drive, a race for the young minds to make their mark in the same industry. But first the house cleaning. The statement from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) was a clear pointer that the house needs a lot of scrubbing.

    Transparency shall be our bedrock in telecom regulation – Maida, read the headline.

    “The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, has pledged that transparency will form the bedrock of his leadership as Nigeria’s chief telecom regulator as this will enable a solid foundation in building a resilient, accountable and efficient institution,” NCC said, in the opening paragraph of the statement, signed by the Public Affairs Director, Reuben Muoka.

    Key words for me in the foregoing are: transparency, accountable, efficient and institution. They point to an immediate but ignoble past where everything that could go wrong went wrong for an institution because of human weaknesses and incapacity to stay by the rules and mock those who see power mongering as a rewarding pastime.

    The statement also suggests that Maida, within the period of his appointment, may have seen a scratch of the layers of rot at the Commission and is ready to make a clean break in order to steer the agency in a new direction.

    “I have been on this seat for about six weeks, and it has afforded me the privilege of a bird’s eye view to understand things better, and identify areas that we urgently need to work on. We are currently carrying out an in-depth study and critical review of issues within the industry. One of the areas we are placing priority on is Quality of Experience,” Maida told the Minister.

    Quality of Experience (QoE). That resonates. It was always Quality of Service (QoS). Meaning that the quality of the industry was measured from the output of the operators, who sometimes are very smart with figures. It seems however that the NCC under Maida will gauge the quality of the industry based on what the subscriber encounters on the network. It can be very frustrating. Signals still bear the qualities of a mirage with subscribers, sometimes, having to climb on high grounds or platforms to make or receive calls.

    Maida spoke of his readiness to spruce up the NCC to attract more investments to the industry, grow 5G and Broadband to enhance connectivity across the nation and enthused that his visit to the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) in Lagos provided ample evidence that the institution has capacity to drive a knowledge-based economy which falls under the Knowledge Pillar in the Strategic Plan of the minister.

    “Consequently, we will be prioritising the revamp, retooling, and redirection of the Institute towards extracting its optimum value in line with our objectives,” Maida pledged.

    From an insider perspective, one would want to affirm here that what the EVC can do with DBI goes beyond what he has seen already. The original plan for the institution was to develop tech knowledge incubation centres across the nation that could help grow a new generation of IT denizens. But the journey started from Abuja, closely followed by Lagos and some other facilities in Kano, Enugu, Asaba and some other places. Former Board Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, who went on a final journey a couple of years ago, and Engr Ernest Ndukwe, EVC, who brewed the original idea had undiluted patriotic blood running in their veins as they contemplated the future of the younger generation. This was years before DBI became a harvest field and a cesspool of wanton deals.

    Their thoughts for the industry were congruously mutual.

    “The NCC is a stellar agency, and you have my respect for the work that you do. There is no future for the country without the NCC. Already, the quality you have is good; what we need to do now is to tap into this quality to bring about greater value for the country,” said Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.

    “I want to assure you that you have the best partner in me. We will work together to achieve the goals and vision we have set,” the Minister assured the NCC CEO.

    Why would this public affirmation be necessary? After all, the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 mandates the Ministry and NCC to create good policies and the right regulatory environment that can help grow the telecommunications industry. The beauty of the Act is in the distinct separation of powers between the ministry and the regulator and this provides a fecund environment for needed growth in the industry.

    However, I am of the opinion that such affirmation is necessary as the industry needs a new wave of support and confidence to mobilise fresh funds for growth. Only recently, the Minister said the Federal Government would require a hefty $2bn to deploy fibre optic cables across the nation. Although, for me, such an amount is but a little drop  (the minister may have his stats which I am not privy to) I want to state clearly that nobody would have been ready to plow such money into an industry that suffered regulatory capture under the last administration.

    The EVC told the Minister that he would create an industry to see more investors come into the telecommunications sector, with the attendant creation of vertical businesses and increased Foreign Direct Investments (FDI), revenue generation, and employment.

    My friend and mentor, Prof Femi Osofisan, declared in one of his books that “words are cheap.” I am persuaded to believe that the two young men know the value of words.

    Talking seriously, the meeting may have afforded the minister and his guest the opportunity to confess the truth about the industry they inherited which looks strong outside but carries a soft underbelly. They may also have contemplated the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity given them by the President and resolve to take full advantage of the intrinsic and exogenous knowledge capital available in the ecosystem to build a new industry capable of leapfrogging the nation to the apogee of modernity. The meeting may have provided a ready opportunity to reflect on the various things that went wrong in the sector under the last administration, especially the sand-bagging of the regulator by the ministry and the duo may have resolved not to thread that ignoble path of the past.

    Tijani was right when he observed that “there is no future for the country without the NCC. Already, the quality you have is good; what we need to do now is to tap into this quality to bring about greater value for the country.”

    Quite profound with uncanny exactitude. In spite of the years of the locust, there is so much knowledge available at the NCC that can help this nation. It is good that Maida has noticed it and the minister, Tijani, has pledged to work with him. The power of two is always better than one. Such cooperation is much better than crash opportunism and a propensity to intimidate. It’s goodbye yesterday and welcome to a more promising future.

  • SIM cards not linked to NIN set for deactivation

    SIM cards not linked to NIN set for deactivation

    A deadline has been given to telecommunications operators in Nigeria to disconnect Subscriber Identification Modules (SIM) not connected to the National Identity Number (NIN).

    According to the telecommunications operators, all SIM cards not connected to the National Identity Number will be disconnected from February 28, 2024.

    Gbenga Adebayo, the chairman Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), confirmed this to Newsmen on Tuesday.

    He said  the directive to deactivate SIMs not linked to NIN is the Nigerian Communications Commission, the country’s telecom regulatory body.

    He explained that the implication is that subscribers of Nigeria’s Mobile Network Operators, including MTN, Airtel, and Globacom, whose SIMs are not linked to NIN, will be deactivated.

    “The implication is that those who do not have their SIMs linked to the National Identity Number or whose lines have been linked but are yet to be verified need to do otherwise; otherwise, they will be disconnected.

    “You know that it is a government directive; it is not our decision; if you read the press statement, the Nigerian Communication Commission directed that we should withdraw the service.

    “We only have to abide by the regulatory directive. We are concerned about the directive because of the number of active subscribers on the networks, but we can only ask people to abide by it because it is a government directive,”

    The development came after the federal government issued several NIN-SIM linkage deadlines.

    Recall that in December 2020, the federal government introduced the SIM-NIN Linkage policy to curtail insecurity and enshrine sanity in the telecoms sector.

    According to NCC, the number of telecom subscribers in Nigeria hit 220,715,961 million as of August 2023.

  • Transparency shall be our bedrock in telecom regulation – Maida

    Transparency shall be our bedrock in telecom regulation – Maida

    The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, has pledged that transparency will form the bedrock of his leadership as Nigeria’s chief telecom regulator as this will enable a solid foundation in  building a resilient, accountable and efficient institution.

    Maida spoke during a courtesy visit to the Hon. Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani in Abuja recently while briefing the minister on his activities, vision, and strategy since the assumption office in October 2023.

    “Transparency is key. It is by transparency that we can self-regulate even as regulators. And by so doing, we would be putting ourselves on our toes, which in the long run will drive the Commission forward to achieve our goals of operational excellence,” Maida stated.

    He commended the minister for leading by example in transparency in his leadership style.

    “Honourable Minister, sir, one of the principles you have shown as a leader is transparency in all your activities and I must say that it is an attribute that has the potential to bring about a transformed industry that is accountable to both the people and the industry players,” he said.

    The NCC boss conveyed his appreciation, through the Minister, to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for finding him worthy of the responsibility to lead a critical sector of the economy.

    The EVC told the Minister that the visit is a crucial one which gave him the opportunity to share with the minister, his vision and priorities for the Commission. Maida also said that these priorities were in tandem with delivering on the 5-Pillars of the Strategic Plan unveiled by the Minister.

    “I have been on this seat for about six weeks, and it has afforded me the privilege of a bird’s eye view to understand things better, and identify areas that we urgently need to work on. We are currently carrying out an in-depth study and critical review of issues within the industry. One of the areas we are placing priority on is Quality of Experience,” Maida told the Minister.

    “At my meeting with industry leaders, we were unambiguous that quality of experience (QoE) will not be negotiable. The Commission will take compliance in this regard seriously, and a standard of what is least acceptable will be set,” the NCC CEO stated.

    Maida told the Minister that another priority area for him is broadband connectivity, which he considers as the biggest enabler of the digital economy and financial inclusion. He noted that these align with the 5-pillar agenda of the Ministry.

    The NCC CEO also reflected on the need to maximise the potentials of innovations in some technological evolutions such as the 5G revolution in order to create more opportunities within the industry and further boost connectivity.

    He informed the Minister that a review of internal processes at the Commission is ongoing to engender efficiency and responsiveness of the Commission, including the digitization of most of our operations.

    “Under my leadership, the Commission will give priorities to the improvement of our regulatory activities. With this, we hope to see more investors come into the telecommunications industry in Nigeria, with the attendant creation of vertical businesses and increased Foreign Direct Investments, revenue generation, and employment”, Maida stated.

    The EVC also said that “In all these, the goal is for the Commission to achieve optimal operational excellence which underpins the success of all other priority areas that we have set in order to achieve a significant all-round growth of the telecommunications industry”.

    Maida equally recalled his visit to the Digital Bridge Institute in Lagos, where he met an institution with vast potentials that would be an asset in driving a knowledge-based economy, in line with the “Knowledge Pillar” of the Strategic Plan unveiled by the minister.

    “Consequently, we will be prioritizing the revamp, retooling, and redirection of the Institute towards extracting its optimum value in line with our objectives,” the EVC said.

    Dr. Tijani, who warmly welcomed the NCC boss, acknowledged the importance and relevance of the telecom regulator in achieving the nation’s digital aspiration.

    “The NCC is a stellar agency, and you have my respect for the work that you do. There is no future for the country without the NCC. Already, the quality you have is good; what we need to do now is to tap into this quality to bring about greater value for the country,” Tijani said.

    “I want to assure you that you have the best partner in me. We will work together to achieve the goals and vision we have set,” the Minister assured the NCC CEO.

  • NCC opens up on major obstacle of telecom industry

    NCC opens up on major obstacle of telecom industry

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has identified multiple taxation as major obstacle militating against sustainable development of telecom industry in the country.

    Adewolu Adeleke, the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management of the NCC, stated this at the Regional Stakeholders Workshop on Multiple Taxation and Regulations, on Wednesday in Kano.

    The theme of the conference is: “Navigating the Landscape of Multiple Taxation and Regulations, Fostering Sustainable Growth through Collaboration”.

    Represented by Efosa Idehen, Director Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement of the commission, Adeleke said multiple taxation and regulations were impacting on the growth of telecoms infrastructure on which all other infrastructure making up digital economy depended.

    “This is not referring to legitimate taxes imposed by appropriate authorities following necessary due processes, but the many irregular, often duplicated and sometimes hastily posed taxes and charges which some agencies pursue for short-term revenue gains neglecting the greater long-term impacts of their actions on investor confidence, the socio-economic wellbeing of our people and overall national economic growth,” he said.

    He said that some state and local government agencies imposed such taxes and regulations without appropriate legal backing, adding that it affected the industry’s out put in general.

    “Multiple taxation and regulations imposed on infrastructure maintenance, environmental impact charges, waste collection charges in addition to value added tax and sales tax being paid simultaneously add to the cost of services enjoyed by the consumers,” he said.

    He advocated for proactive measures to proffer lasting solution to the problem of multiple taxation and regulations.

    “I am, therefore, pleased to note that one of the most pivotal actions taken by President Bola Tinubu, upon assuming office, was the establishment of Presidential Tax Reform Committee.

    “We have presented our recommendations to the committee, and we are confident that it will make necessary recommendations to conclusively address the various dimensions of the problem of multiple taxations and regulation.

    “In our view, prioritizing comprehensive tax reform will unlock the full potential of the Nigerian economy.

    “These reforms should aim to simplify the tax system, eliminate redundancies, and promote transparency.

    “Government at all levels must collaborate to create a harmonised tax structure that foster economic growth rather than stifling it,” he said.

    The NCC Commissioner stressed the need for speedy deployment of new infrastructure and the seamless operations of existing ones to achieve 90 per cent broadband penetration by 2027 in the country.

    “To illustrate, the industry experienced over 35,000 fiber cuts in 2022 and over 24,000 fiber cuts so far in 2023. Similarly, over N14 billion has been spent on repairing damaged fiber.

    “In the same vein there has been over 18,000 denial of access cases recorded in 2022 and over 6,000 cases so far in 2023.

    “Statistics of this nature cannot encourage anyone to invest. So we all owe it a duty to tackle this menace once and for all”.

  • Maida excited at Nigeria’s success at WRC-23

    Maida excited at Nigeria’s success at WRC-23

    The leadership of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is excited about Nigeria’s impressive performance at the ongoing International Telecommunications Union (ITU)’s World Radio Communications (WRC) Conference 2023, holding in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where two Nigerians were elected into leadership positions, while some other delegates from the Commission were elected into Working Groups.

    Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Aminu Maida, speaking on the sidelines of WRC 2023 in Dubai,  announced  that the Director of Spectrum Administration at NCC, Engineer Abraham Oshadami, has been elected  Vice Chairman of the ITU’s Radiocommunication Advisory Group (RAG); while the Acting General Manager and Project Manager, Navigation Project Office, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited, Dr. Lasisi Salami Lawal was elected Vice Chairman of the ITU-R Study Group Four (Satellite Services). Some other members of the NCC delegation were elected into WRC 2023 Working Groups.

    While congratulating the successful delegates, Maida commended the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, who led Nigeria’s delegation to WRC 2023, for “providing guidance, leadership, encouragement and support to the Nigerian delegation at the conference.”

    The WRC Conference brings together the global community to agree on the use of the world’s finite spectrum resources, the electromagnetic waves that provide connectivity for our day-to-day technologies.

    Maida expressed delight at the outcome of the elections, stating that roles of the Nigerian elected delegates would enhance Nigeria’s global standing in the telecom space, as well as ensure that the country’s interests and goals are more aptly aligned with global best practices.

    “I am excited about the election of two of our colleagues, Engr. Oshadami and Dr. Lawal as Vice Chairs of the Key Study Groups. It is an honour for the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited to have produced these two intellectuals as global radiocommunication leaders.

    “Their positions will also ensure that our interests and goals aptly align with global best practices, especially as we work towards attaining the target set by the National Broadband Plan,” he said.

    He further charged them to live up to the huge expectations that the global radiocommunication community has placed on them by electing them into the roles.

    He also reflected deeply on the presence of the Honourable Minister at the event as a major booster for the delegation and a strong indication of the Federal Government’s commitment to the delegation’s participation at the WRC-23.

    The NCC boss also used his presence at the event to engage with the leadership of the ITU, as well as other leaders in the global telecom industry.

    He held meetings with the Secretary General of the ITU, Mrs. Doreen Borden-Martin, as well as the Secretary General of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU), Mr. John Omo, during which he shared his vision and priorities for the Commission, as well as potential areas of collaboration and increased Nigerian participation in the two unions.

    Maida also met with directors at the ITU, including the Director of Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT), Dr.Cosmas Zavazava; Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau (BR) Mr. Mario Maniewicz and the Director of the Telecommunication Standardisation Bureau (TSB), Mr. Seizo Onoe,

    One of the meetings was also with his UAE counterpart – the Director General of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), H. E. Engineer Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, where they shared their perspectives on effective regulation.

  • Why competition is key in telecom sector – NCC boss

    Why competition is key in telecom sector – NCC boss

    Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigeria Communications Commission, Dr. Aminu Maida, has said competition is key to the healthy growth of the telecoms sector.

    Maida, who spoke on Wednesday when he received a delegation of management of Airtel Networks Limited in Abuja, said the Commission will give closer attention to managing the competition in the industry.

    “We are more inclined to promote competition by creating a level-playing ground for all our licensees,” he said.

    The NCC boss explained that the Commission is looking at all sides of the issue on competition in the sector.

    “Indeed, the rising cost of business is affecting every sector.  We are also looking at a win-win regulatory approach, but we need to be careful to avoid over-regulation, as over-regulation is inimical to competition in the industry,” he added.

    “The NCC has recently undertaken the review of all categories of licences, both class and individual, with a view to ensuring that our licensees are still able to work well within their capital and operating expenditure (COPEX),” he said.

    In the same vein, Maida during the visit by the Airtel delegation said, in line with regulatory approach, the Commission considers it critical to have a win-win strategies and regulatory framework in place to ensure sustainability of the telecom industry.

    “It’s critical for the NCC and telcos to develop win-win strategies for the Nigerian telecom industry so that everybody gets value. The Minister has a blueprint, the President has the Renewed Hope Agenda, and they need to achieve it while telcos need to deliver value to the customers,” he said.

    The Airtel Network delegation was led by the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Carl Cruz, who congratulated the EVC for his appointment by the President and confirmation by the Senate.

    Cruz said while the Commission deserves commendation for its competition regulatory policies and frameworks, which it has put in place over the years, such efforts must be sustained to ensure a healthy competitive environment for telecom licensees.