Tag: NCC

Yanluowang Ransomware: NCC-CSIRT urges stronger security measures

The Nigerian Communications Commission’s Computer Security Incident Response Team (NCC-CSIRT) has urged organisations to adopt stronger cybersecurity measures.

These measures include ensuring that organisations’ employees use strong, unique passwords for every account and enabling multi-factor authentication (2FA) wherever it is supported to prevent ransomware attacks as well as advising organisations to ensure regular systems backup.

The NCC-CSIRT’s warning contained in its advisory of August 12, 2022, came after the Yanluowang threat actors gained access to Cisco’s network using an employee’s stolen credentials after hijacking the employee’s personal Google account containing credentials synced from their browser.

Ransomware is a malware designed to deny a user or organization access to files on their computer until they pay the attackers.

Cisco reported the security incident on its corporate network but said it did not identify any impact on its business although the threat actors had published a list of files from this security incident on the dark web on August 10.

NCC-CSIRT estimated potential damage from the incident to be critical while predicting that successful exploitation of the ransomware will result in ransomware deployment to compromise computer systems, sensitive products and customers’ data theft and exposure, as well as huge financial loss to organizations by incurring significant indirect costs and could also mar their reputations.

The team said, “The first step to preventing ransomware attacks is to ensure that employees are using strong, unique passwords for every account and enabling multi-factor authentication (2FA) wherever it’s supported.”

It further disclosed that “In response to the attack, Cisco has immediately implemented a company-wide password reset. Users of Cisco products should ensure a successful password reset.

“As a precaution, the company has also created two Clam AntiVirus signatures (Win.Exploit.Kolobko-9950675-0 and Win.Backdoor.Kolobko-9950676-0) to disinfect any potentially compromised assets. Clam AntiVirus Signatures (or ClamAV) is a multi-platform antimalware toolkit that can detect a wide range of malware and viruses.

“User education is critical in thwarting this type of attacks or any similar attacks, including ensuring that employees are aware of the legitimate channels through which support personnel will contact users, so that employees can identify fraudulent attempts to obtain sensitive information. Organisations should ensure regular systems backup,” the advisory urged.

The CSIRT is the telecom sector’s cyber security incidence centre set up by the NCC to focus on incidents in the telecom sector and as they may affect telecom consumers and citizens at large.

The CSIRT also works collaboratively with the Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT), established by the Federal Government to reduce the volume of future computer risks incidents by preparing, protecting and securing the Nigerian cyberspace to forestall attacks, problems or related events.

August 13, 2022
NCC clarifies new fees on adverts, promos

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has clarified that new fees imposed on advertisements and promotions do not amount to double taxation.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports NCC Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management (ECSM), Mr Adeleke Adeolu made the clarification in Abuja on Thursday at the closing ceremony of a three-day public inquiry on the draft of five regulatory instruments.

Mr Adeolu said that the new fees for advertisements and promotions are necessary to meet the current realities in the telecoms sector of the Nigerian economy and protect consumers.

The ECSM explained that the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) and the Nigerian Lottery Commission (NLC) are regulators of advertisements and lotteries, while NCC is the regulator of the telecom industry.

“I think multiple taxation is a strong word to use here. It is not in the form of a tax. These are fees for the administration of an application process whereby licencees have to apply to us.

“This is in the interest of consumers to ensure that where advertisements or promotions are being run on telecommunication platforms, they are done with responsibility, existing laws and ensure that the interest of consumers is protected.

“If you look at the rates for advertisements and promotions, these rates are set many years ago. They do not reflect the reality of today and what we are already doing is bringing them in line with current trends in the country and industry,” he said, explaining that this will in no way have any effect on tariffs.

The ECSM boss, however, said that the NLC had a role to play as the regulator of lottery, adding that lotteries impact on consumers because people play with money.

He said that NLC had granted a role to ensure that the interest of people participating in lotteries were protected and their fees at a charge for the purpose of carrying out obligations under its act.

“The NCC on the other hand has the clear mandate to protect consumers in running advertisements on promo on telecommunications networks. The two acts are very clear and I do not think this amounts to multiple taxation in any way,” he said.

A representative of 9mobile, Mr Ikenna Ikoku, who spoke virtually in the course of the public inquiry, claimed that the payment of fees on advertisements and promos would amount to double taxation.

“We pay to APCON and lottery commission; paying to NCC again will result to multiple taxation. The NCC should only charge processing fees,” he said.

A representative of Airtel, Mr Ade Gbolahan, said that the commission should leave the fees at the old rate of N350,000.

“The proposed fees should be left at N350,000 as it is. This is another fee that the industry is not pleased with. We would want the commission to suspend the increase for the time being,” Gbolahan said.

Also, Mr Damian Ude, of IHS Nigeria Ltd, called on NCC to review downward, the 10 metres requirement for deployment of communication infrastructure to five metres, especially in congested areas.

August 11, 2022
NCC to introduce fees on type approved devices, short codes

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it will soon introduce registration fees on Type Approved telecommunication devices and Short Codes.

The commission made this known at the opening of a three-day public inquiry on a draft of the Telecom Regulations and Guidelines review on Tuesday in Abuja.

Newsmen reports that this is coming after the Federal Government planned to implement a five per cent inclusive Value Added Tax (VAT) on telecommunication services.

The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said the review became necessary due to current realities in the industry.

Danbatta said that it had become imperative to amend all five existing regulatory instruments to reflect current realities.”

According to him, the regulatory instruments being reviewed cut across all sectors of the telecommunications industry.

“The Type Approval Regulations provide a framework for the approval of communications equipment for connection to communications networks in Nigeria.

“It is pursuant to sections 130 to 134 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

“The guidelines on Short Code Operation is intended to prescribe a standard of practice for providers of short code services.

“It will also provide a revised framework for the provision of these services and for the protection against misuse.

“The third instrument, being the Guidelines on Technical Specifications for the Deployment of Communications Infrastructure,” he said.

According to him, it provides standards to be adhered to by Communications service providers towards ensuring environmental safety and sound engineering practices.

“The fourth instrument is the Guidelines on Advertisements and Promotions.

“It provides minimum requirements and standards for promotional advertisements by licensed telecommunications operators in Nigeria.

“Finally, the fifth instrument, which is the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations, amongst others, sets rules for consumer protection.

“It prescribes the procedures to be followed by a Licensee in preparing approved consumer codes of practice, in accordance with section 106 of the Act,” Danbatta said.

He said that the NCC had also introduced Business Rules for Type Approval to address issues that cannot be catered for in the regulations and ensure that the Type Approval process is seamless.

The EVC said that the Broadband penetration in Nigeria increased by 91.70 per cent in the last four years, with more than 84 million internet subscriptions in the country.

“It is our expectation that this review will improve the standards and procedures for Type Approvals, Operation of Short Codes and Advertisement and Promotions,” he said.

Mr Nwanze Ononye, Principal Manager, Technical Standards and Networks Integrity Department, said the type of approved telecom devices and shortcodes for consumers used to be free.

“What the commission is introducing that was not there before is payment for Type Approved Telecom devices and Short Codes, which used to be free,” he said.

Head, Telecoms Laws and Regulations, Legal and Regulatory Services Department, Ms Helen Obi, said that Public Inquiry was an avenue for the NCC to incorporate the comments and suggestions of industry stakeholders.

Obi said this would help in the development of its regulatory instruments.

“This process ensures that the regulatory instruments issued by the commission are in line with the current realities in the industry,” she said.

August 10, 2022
Broadband penetration hits 44.5% as NCC reviews Short Code services

Nigeria’s broadband usage has continued on the rise, moving up from 40.9 per cent in February 2022 to 44.5 per cent in July 2022, a figure considered hopeful for achieving the national broadband target of 70 per cent in 2025.

Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta, who disclosed this earlier today (August 9, 2022) at the beginning of a three-day public inquiry on five telecom regulations and guidelines which began in Abuja, said emerging technologies and advancements in the sector demand that the Commission is prepared to match these developments with appropriate regulations and guidelines.

“With the technological advancements anticipated in the coming years, it is expected that there will be a proliferation of devices in the industry. It is, therefore, essential for the Commission to ensure that the right regulatory frameworks can accommodate such eventualities,” he said.

At the event, which was attended by all members of the Board of Commissioners, led by its Chairman, Prof. Adeolu Akande, the Commission’s CEO said the public inquiry which covered five areas of existing regulations, are aimed at achieving operational efficiency and operational excellence.

He listed the regulatory instruments under review at the public inquiry to include: Type Approval Regulations, Guidelines on Short Code Operation in Nigeria, Guidelines on Technical Specifications for the Deployment of Communications Infrastructure, Guidelines on Advertisements and Promotions, as well as Consumer Code of Practice Regulations.

He said the focus areas were already articulated in some important documents guiding the operations of the Commission, which include the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020 – 2025, the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020 – 2030, NCC’s Strategic Management Plan (SMP) 2020-2024, and its Strategic Vision Implementation Plan (SVIP) 2021–2025, which are being implemented towards achieving its mandate.

While stating that these strides are the results of the Commission’s regulatory efficiency and focused implementation of policies and strategies of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Danbatta said the public inquiry is in tandem with the Commission’s strategy of consulting stakeholders in all its regulatory interventions.

The EVC further stated that the amendment of these regulatory instruments were to reflect current realities, one of which is the anticipated deployment of the Fifth Generation (5G) technology, and management of short codes in Nigeria, including the Toll-Free Emergency Code 112.

Earlier, Head, Telecoms Laws and Regulations at NCC, Helen Obi, had stated that public inquiry allows the Commission to incorporate the comments and suggestions of industry stakeholders, in the development of its regulatory instruments.

She said the process ensures that the Commission’s regulatory instruments are in line with the current realities in the industry as it had done with some regulatory frameworks and guidelines in 2021.

August 10, 2022
NCC to support indigenous innovative solutions based on 5G

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will support the development of indigenous innovative solutions based on the use cases of 5G technology by funding hackathons, research fairs and startup hubs.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports this is contained in the National Policy document on Fifth Generation (5G) Networks for Nigeria’s Digital Economy, which has identified a number of use cases of 5G technology.

Already, the regulatory authority for the telecommunications industry in Nigeria has set in motion the process to amend regulatory instruments in anticipation of 5G revolution in Nigeria, which the Commission has envisaged will result in the proliferation of devices in the country.

A vital advantage of 5G is the number of use cases it will enable and the emerging technologies it will facilitate.

This rides on its ability to provide wireless broadband services at Gigabit speeds and data connections well above 10 Gigabits per second, latency below five milliseconds and the capability to exploit any available wireless resource, from Wi-Fi to 4G and to handle millions of connected devices simultaneously

5G technology will support the development of new applications which will connect devices and allow innovative applications and business models due to its software virtualization abilities.

The NCC in the National Policy document identified use cases of 5G technology to include enhancements in application areas such as Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Drones, Advanced Communication Systems, Cloud, 3D Printing, Mixed Reality, Simulation/Imaging and Gamification.

“These application areas will impact and create new improvements in areas such as Manufacturing, Transportation, Public Services, Health and Social Works, Agriculture, Energy, Logistics, Media and Entertainment, Mining and Quarrying, Machinery and Equipment, Automotive, Education, Information and Communication, Urban Infrastructure, Consumer experience, Sports, Semiconductor Technologies, etc,” the document reads in part.

To drive the revolution, NCC is under the mandate to encourage stakeholders to provide innovative solutions and partner with National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and other relevant agencies to facilitate the adoption of these technologies.

TNG reports the Commission is also under the mandate to collaborate with relevant agencies of government to support MSMEs and provide suitable enabling environments that foster innovation and creativity.

The Commission will also continue to collaborate with the academia and research institutions to fund research proposals that encourage the development of innovative solutions based on 5G.

August 10, 2022
FG commends NCC’s regulatory strides

The Federal Government has commended the leadership of the Nigerian Communications Commission for the remarkable strides of the agency that has earned spectacular international reputation for Nigeria and placed the telecom regulator in the forefront of the nation’s quest for forward looking national economic growth.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. William Alo, said this recently while receiving the management team of NCC, led by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, who briefed him on the status of the industry after his recent appointment to the Ministry.

“So far so good. The entire country, and beyond, is fully aware of the strategic importance of the NCC as a regulating institution of the telecommunications industry in Nigeria. And, of course, we are aware today that between oil and communications, the latter is gradually taking over in the provision of revenue for the country as the nation strives to diversify the economy,” he said.

He said of a truth, the quality of service has improved tremendously over the past few years now and that the Commission deserves a pat on the back for what it has done in that direction. “Your efforts are generally felt in the economy. So when you talk of digitalization of the economy the NCC and the operators are the first port of call.”

He requested the leadership of the Commission to continue the good work and also strive to mind and bridge the infrastructure gap that may create a gap between the served and underserved communities in the country.

Danbatta, who provided a detailed briefing about the achievements of the Commission and its efforts toward addressing all the challenges confronting the industry, intimated him with the key focus and targets of the Commission through the launched of the Strategic Vision (Implementation) Plan SVP 2021 – 2025, which took into consideration, the provisions of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy 2020-2030, and National Broadband Plan 2020-2025.

He said the SVP, which streamlines all policies for a robust sectoral lifting and relevance, has five focus areas which include: operational efficiency and regulatory excellence; facilitation of infrastructure provision for the digital economy; promotion of fair competition, inclusive growth and investment; improvement of quality of serve and quality of experience; and facilitation of strategic collaboration and partnership.

Prof Danbatta who led a team of two executive commissioners and directors of the Commission to the briefing, listed successes recorded since 2015 in teledensity, broadband penetration, and significant contribution of the industry to the gross domestic product (GDP) that grew from 8.5 per cent in the 4th quarter of 2015 to 12.61 in the 4th quarter of 2021, as the sector also attracted over $2 billion in foreign direct investment over the period.

The NCC chief executive listed some other key achievements of the Commission under him to include the recent successful auction of 3.5GHz spectrum for 5G services, licensing of 7 fibre optics infrastructure providers, and adding up to 38,296 kilometers of fibre optic in the country.

Danbatta noted that access gap clusters in the country has been reduced from 217 to 114 to enable 15 million Nigerians have access to telecommunications services, and increase of fibre optics deployments from 47,000 kilometers to 54,725 kilometers.

The EVC revealed that the 3G and 4G Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) in the country has increased from less than 30,000 in 2015 to 53,460 while 7 VSAT gateway earth stations have been licensed to boost broadband penetration in the country.

He informed the new Permanent Secretary that the Commission under him has also remitted N463 billion to the Consolidated Revenue Fund from 2015 to April 2022, while landing permits have been issued to 53 Geo Satellite Orbits space stations and 923 non-GSO space stations.

August 9, 2022
NCC amends regulatory instruments in anticipation of 5G revolution in Nigeria

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has set in motion the process to amend regulatory instruments in anticipation of 5G revolution in Nigeria, which the Commission has envisaged will result in the proliferation of devices in the country.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports NCC on Tuesday began a three-day public inquiry on five (5) regulatory instruments, one of which is the type approval regulatory instrument, which provides a framework for the approval of communications equipment for connection to communications networks in the country.

The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta disclosed that public inquiry is a key element in the Commission’s consultative engagements as part of its rule-making process and a key ingredient of its regulatory excellence.

Danbatta further disclosed that the Commission has also introduced business rules for type approval to address issues that cannot be catered for in the regulations and ensure that the type approval process is seamless.

The NCC EVC stated that with the deployment of 5G in Nigeria, mobile network operators will invest heavily in communications infrastructure and that with the technological advancements anticipated as a result, it is expected that there will be a proliferation of devices in the industry.

“It is therefore essential for the Commission to ensure that the regulatory framework can accommodate such eventualities,” Danbatta said while expressing confidence that the review process will improve the standards and procedures for type approvals.

TNG reports the public inquiry also covers Guidelines on Technical Specifications for the Deployment of Communications Infrastructure, Guidelines on Short Code Operation in Nigeria, Guidelines on Advertisements and Promotions and Consumer Code of Practice Regulations.

The NCC boss said all five (5) regulatory instruments are existing instruments, which are being amended to reflect current realities.

Earlier in her opening remarks, Ms. Helen Obi, Head, Telecoms Laws & Regulations, Legal & Regulatory Services Department of the NCC disclosed that the draft of all the regulatory instruments regulations have since been published on the Commission’s website.

Ms. Obi disclosed that comments from external stakeholders have been received and reviewed while re-emphasizing that the public inquiry is an avenue that allows the Commission to incorporate the comments and suggestions of industry stakeholders, in the development of its regulatory instruments.

“This process ensures that the regulatory instruments issued by the Commission are in line with the current realities in the industry. In the last year, the Commission has held Public Inquiries on the Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations, the SIM Replacement Guidelines, Frequency Spectrum (Fees & Pricing, Etc.) Regulations, Annual Operating Levy Regulations, Guidelines on National Roaming, Guidelines on Colocation and Infrastructure Sharing and the Spectrum Trading Guidelines.

“It is pertinent to state that of all the instruments listed above, the Commission has published Guidelines on National Roaming 2021, Guidelines on Colocation and Infrastructure Sharing 2021, SIM Replacement Guidelines 2022 and the Spectrum Trading Guidelines 2022; whilst the Annual Operating Levy Regulations and the Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations have been forwarded to the Ministry of Justice for gazetting, whilst the Frequency Spectrum (Fees & Pricing, Etc.) Regulations is at the final stages of the review process.

“To build on the successes recorded last year in this regard, the Commission has decided to review five (5) regulatory instruments: Type Approval Regulations (as amended), Guidelines on Short Code Operation in Nigeria (as amended), Guidelines on Technical Specifications for the deployment of Communications Infrastructure (as amended), Guidelines on Advertisements and Promotions (as amended) and the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations (as amended).

“The draft of all the regulatory instruments Regulations have since been published on the Commission’s website and comments from external Stakeholders have been received and reviewed. The above notwithstanding, we hope to receive additional comments from external stakeholders, which would ensure that the final regulatory instruments are such that will guarantee the progressive development of the industry,” Obi said.

August 9, 2022
Internet subscriptions hit 84 million in Nigeria

The current broadband penetration in Nigeria as of June 2022 stands at 44.30% with more than eighty-four million internet subscriptions in the country, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta has said.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Prof Danbatta disclosed this at the conference hall of the Commission’s headquarters on Tuesday, being the first day of a three-day public inquiry on five (5) regulatory instruments.

Danbatta also disclosed that broadband penetration in Nigeria has increased by 91.70 per cent in the last four years, stressing that the country’s broadband penetration increased from 21.21 per cent in April 2017 to 40.66 per cent in April 2021.

“The Commission’s data show that in April 2021, 77,605,500 million Nigerians were connected to the Internet, up from 40,481,570 million in April 2017. The current broadband penetration as at June 2022 stands at 44.30% with more than eighty-four million internet subscriptions in the Country. While the Industry’s contributions to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has risen from 9.81% in Q4 2018 to 12.61% in Q4 2021,” the EVC said.

Danbatta said these strides are outcomes of the Commission’s regulatory management of the telecoms industry as well as its focused implementation of policies and strategies of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

He disclosed that the public inquiry, holding from August 9 to 11, 2022, is a key element in the Commission’s consultative engagements as part of its rule-making process and a key ingredient of regulatory excellence.

TNG reports the first instrument is the type approval regulations, which provide a framework for the approval of communications equipment for connection to communications networks in Nigeria, pursuant to sections 130 to 134 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003. The Commission has also introduced Business Rules for Type Approval to address issues that cannot be catered for in the Regulations and ensure that the Type Approval process is seamless.

The second instrument, Guidelines on Short Code Operation in Nigeria, is intended to prescribe a standard of practice for providers of short code services and to provide a revised framework for the provision of these services and for the protection against misuse.

The third instrument, being the Guidelines on Technical Specifications for the Deployment of Communications Infrastructure, provides standards to be adhered to by Communications services providers/operators, designers, fabricators and installers of Communications towers and laying of fibre optic cables towards ensuring environmental safety and sound engineering practices.

The fourth instrument, is the Guidelines on Advertisements and Promotions, which provides minimum requirements and standards for promotional advertisements by licensed telecommunications operators in Nigeria.

Finally, the fifth instrument, which is the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations, amongst other things, sets rules for consumer protection and prescribes the procedures to be followed by a Licensee in preparing approved consumer codes of practice, in accordance with section 106 of the Act.

Danbatta stated all (5) five regulatory instruments are existing instruments which are being amended to reflect current realities.

“One of such realities is that with the deployment of 5G, it will become necessary for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to invest heavily in communications infrastructure. Also, with the technological advancements anticipated in the coming years, it is expected that there will be a proliferation of devices in the industry. It is therefore essential for the Commission to ensure that the regulatory framework can accommodate such eventualities,” he said.

The NCC EVC expressed confidence that the review process will improve the standards and procedures for Type Approvals, Operation of Short Codes and Advertisement and Promotions, ensure a more robust framework for the deployment of Communications Infrastructure and guarantee that the procedures to be followed by a Licensee in preparing approved consumer codes of practice are in tandem with current realities.

Earlier in her opening remarks, Ms. Helen Obi, Head, Telecoms Laws & Regulations, Legal & Regulatory Services Department of the NCC disclosed that the draft of all the regulatory instruments regulations have since been published on the Commission’s website and comments from external Stakeholders have been received and reviewed.

August 9, 2022
FG commends NCC’s regulatory strides

The Federal Government has commended the leadership of the Nigerian Communications Commission for the remarkable strides of the agency that has earned spectacular international reputation for Nigeria and placed the telecom regulator in the forefront of the nation’s quest for forward looking national economic growth.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. William Alo, said this recently while receiving the management team of NCC, led by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, who briefed him on the status of the industry after his recent appointment to the Ministry.

“So far so good. The entire country, and beyond, is fully aware of the strategic importance of the NCC as a regulating institution of the telecommunications industry in Nigeria. And, of course, we are aware today that between oil and communications, the latter is gradually taking over in the provision of revenue for the country as the nation strives to diversify the economy,” he said.

He said of a truth, the quality of service has improved tremendously over the past few years now and that the Commission deserves a pat on the back for what it has done in that direction. “Your efforts are generally felt in the economy. So when you talk of digitalization of the economy the NCC and the operators are the first port of call.”

He requested the leadership of the Commission to continue the good work and also strive to mind and bridge the infrastructure gap that may create a gap between the served and underserved communities in the country.

Danbatta, who provided a detailed briefing about the achievements of the Commission and its efforts toward addressing all the challenges confronting the industry, intimated him with the key focus and targets of the Commission through the launched of the Strategic Vision (Implementation) Plan SVP 2021 – 2025, which took into consideration, the provisions of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy 2020-2030, and National Broadband Plan 2020-2025.

He said the SVP, which streamlines all policies for a robust sectoral lifting and relevance, has five focus areas which include: operational efficiency and regulatory excellence; facilitation of infrastructure provision for the digital economy; promotion of fair competition, inclusive growth and investment; improvement of quality of serve and quality of experience; and facilitation of strategic collaboration and partnership.

Prof Danbatta who led a team of two executive commissioners and directors of the Commission to the briefing, listed successes recorded since 2015 in teledensity, broadband penetration, and significant contribution of the industry to the gross domestic product (GDP) that grew from 8.5 per cent in the 4th quarter of 2015 to 12.61 in the 4th quarter of 2021, as the sector also attracted over $2 billion in foreign direct investment over the period.

The NCC chief executive listed some other key achievements of the Commission under him to include the recent successful auction of 3.5GHz spectrum for 5G services, licensing of 7 fibre optics infrastructure providers, and adding up to 38,296 kilometers of fibre optic in the country.

Danbatta noted that access gap clusters in the country has been reduced from 217 to 114 to enable 15 million Nigerians have access to telecommunications services, and increase of fibre optics deployments from 47,000 kilometers to 54,725 kilometers.

The EVC revealed that the 3G and 4G Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) in the country has increased from less than 30,000 in 2015 to 53,460 while 7 VSAT gateway earth stations have been licensed to boost broadband penetration in the country.

He informed the new Permanent Secretary that the Commission under him has also remitted N463 billion to the Consolidated Revenue Fund from 2015 to April 2022, while landing permits have been issued to 53 Geo Satellite Orbits space stations and 923 non-GSO space stations.

August 9, 2022
NCC-CSIRT flags ‘HiddenAds’ malware that jeopardizes users’ privacy

The Nigerian Communications Commission’s Computer Security Incident Response Team (NCC-CSIRT) has flagged a new malware, HiddenAds, which has infiltrated Google Play Store that can impact device performance and jeopardize users’ privacy.

In its advisory of August 8, 2022, NCC-CSIRT classified the virus, first identified by the McAfee Mobile Research Team, as high in probability and damage potential.

The malware infiltrated the Google Play Store in the form of several device cleaners or optimization apps.

According to the summary provided by NCC-CSIRT “Upon installation, it can run malicious services without the user opening the app. It also spams the user with irrelevant advertisements. The apps have received downloads ranging from 100,000 to over a million.

“Some of the apps HiddenAds masquerades as are: Junk Cleaner, EasyCleaner, Power Doctor, Carpet Clean, Super Clean, Meteor Clean, Strong Clean, Windy Clean, Fingertip Cleaner, Keep Clean, Full Clean – Clean Cache, Quick Cleaner, and Cool Clean.

“When a user installs any of the aforementioned apps, whether the user has opened the app or not, a malicious service is immediately installed on the device. The app will then attempt to blend into the app tray by changing its icon to the Google Play icon that every Android user is familiar with. Its name will also change to ‘Google Play’ or ‘Setting’. The device will then be bombarded with ads in a variety of deceptive ways, severely impairing the user experience,” the advisory stated.

Anyone that installs the compromised app will experience their device performance suffering significantly, clicking on the ads may result in stealth downloads/installation of other malware, users may inadvertently subscribe to services and be billed on a monthly basis, and the privacy of users will be jeopardized.

NCC-CSIRT advised users to avoid downloading questionable apps or apps they are unsure about while those who have installed any of the identified malicious apps should immediately delete them.

It further disclosed that where the malicious app’s icon and name have changed, it can be identified by the fact that it is removable while the legitimate Google Play app cannot be uninstalled.

The advisory recommended the installation of anti-virus/anti-malware software with a proven track record for detecting and removing malware.

The Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) is the telecom sector’s cyber security incidence centre set up by the NCC to focus on incidents in the telecom sector and as they may affect telecom consumers and citizens at large.

The CSIRT also works collaboratively with the Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT), established by the Federal Government to reduce the volume of future computer risks incidents by preparing, protecting and securing the Nigerian cyberspace to forestall attacks, problems or related events.

August 9, 2022