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Tag: NCC

  • NCC says it is yet to renew Airtel’s license

    NCC says it is yet to renew Airtel’s license

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), says it is yet to renew Airtel’s Mobile Operating License.

    Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, made this known in a statement on Sunday, in Abuja.

    According to him, the attention of the NCC was drawn to a recent statement on an online publication, credited to the Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, to the effect that the mobile operating license of Airtel had been renewed by the Commission, for another period of 10 years.

    “Mr Ogunsanya was said to have made the statement while speaking in Lagos on July 14, 2021, during the media launch of Airtel’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme, ‘Touching Lives 6”.

    Adinde said that the Commission stated that while Airtel Nigeria had applied for the renewal of the Unified Access Service (UASL) License granted to it by the Commission, the application is yet to be approved, adding that it is undergoing required regulatory process.

    Recall that Ogunsanya, at the launch of ‘Airtel Touching Lives Season 6’ on Wednesday in Lagos, noted that Airtel earned a ‘Social License’ through its commitment to empowering and uplifting people and making positive and lasting impact on lives of its stakeholders.

  • Only 50% of polling units have 3G network to transmit election result – NCC

    Only 50% of polling units have 3G network to transmit election result – NCC

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), says only about 50 per cent of polling units in the country has 3G network that can transmit elections results electronically.

    The Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Mr Ubale Maska made this known while addressing the House of Representatives on Friday in Abuja.

    Recall that the commission was invited to brief the lawmakers, following the uproar that erupted in the house on Thursday, while members were considering clause 52 of the Electoral Amendment Bill.

    The house was divided over the clause which made provisions for transmission of election results electronically.

    The house could not make progress as some members were in support of electronic transmission of results while others insisted on manual transmission, saying that not all polling units had network coverage.

    Responding to questions from lawmakers, Maska told the house that in 2018, the commission conducted an analysis of the 119,000 polling units in the country.

    According to him, about 50.3 per cent of the polling units have 3G and 2G network coverage, while parts of the remaining 46.7 have only 2G and the rest do not have coverage at all.

    He explained that only polling units with 3G network coverage could transmit election results electronically.

    He, however, explained that results could be uploaded in areas covered by 2G and later be moved to an area with 3G for the transmission to be completed.

    On possibility of hacking the process, Maska said that no system could be 100 per cent free from activities of hackers.

    He was responding to a question from a lawmaker which bothered on the ability of the agency to prevent hackers from tempering with the process.

    Maska recalled that the 2016 presidential elections in the United States were widely believed to be hacked, saying that activities of hackers were reported daily.

    The Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila said that haven informed members, the house would revert to the Committee of the Whole to consider clause 52 and other clauses yet to be considered.

  • NCC to auction 5G Spectrum by Q4 of 2021 — Danbatta

    NCC to auction 5G Spectrum by Q4 of 2021 — Danbatta

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it will auction the Fifth Generation Technology (5G) spectrum by the Fourth Quarter (Q4) of 2021.

    Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, disclosed this at the maiden International Conference on Information and Engineering Systems (ICIES) on Thursday at Nile University, Abuja.

    The conference is centered on “Multidisciplinary Engineering and Applied Sciences”.

    Danbatta, represented by NCC Director of Technical Standard, Mr Bako Wakil, noted that for the process of the allocation auctioning, assigning and commercialisation of 5G spectrum to be seamless and successful, the Federal Government must provide an enabling environment.

    “The government will provide an enabling environment for 5G deployment, but the MNOs will determine their own deployment strategies, subject to alignment with approved polices and other regulatory instruments in force.

    “Securing spectrum for 5G is an antecedent for any operator to commit serious investment to 5G infrastructure.

    “This makes it imperative for the spectrum allocation and assignment process to be concluded as early as possible.

    “The following timeline is proposed as optimal in the policy document 5G Spectrum Allocation (Q2 2021) 5G Spectrum Auction (Q4 2021) 5G Spectrum Assignment (Q1 2022) and Commercialisation of 5G Spectrum (Q4 2022).

    The EVC, who spoke on the topic “5G Deployment: Catalyst for Digital Transformation in Nigeria”, noted that researches and tests had been carried out on the hazardous impact of electromagnetic emissions from 5G and that they were far below the minimum required standard.

    He, however, expressed optimism that 5G indeed was a catalyst for digital transformation in Nigeria and around the world, as it would digitalise and greatly impact the economy of the country.

    “The plan to deploy 5G technology creates need for study of the electromagnetic radiation levels which will be generated by the 5G infrastructure.

    “These tests were conducted in accordance with the International Commission on Non-lonizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) Guidelines for general public exposure to time varying electromagnetic fields.

    “The results of the test show that radiation from 5G infrastructure is far below the ICNIRP specification for protection of members of the public and therefore, suggest that no public health hazards are expected from the use of 5G in Nigeria.

    “Scientific evidence from studies carried out by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), all show that exposure to radio frequencies are safe and does not cause or initiate the occurrence of cancers.

    “We are hopeful that the 5G revolution will transform our nation and the economy digitally and become a developmental revolution as well as digital transformation tools, reaching out and bringing benefits to everyone everywhere,” he said.

    Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Nile University, Prof. Osman Aras, explained that the conference would provide an enabling platform for students, researchers and professionals in the industry to share views on current research work for advancement of knowledge, technology and multidisciplinary research.

    Aras said the conference would not have any meaning without reaching end users or put to practical use, otherwise, there would be volumes of knowledge on the shelves and internet without consumers.

    “This will form collaborations for advancement of knowledge, technology and multidisciplinary research.

    “We are in an era which has shaped our lives in such a way that our major concerns are contributions to the well-being of others, presently and in the time to come.

    “The outcomes of this conference will therefore, have no meaning unless they reach the end users or put to practical use. Otherwise, we shall have volumes and volumes of knowledge, some on our shelves and others on the internet without any consumer.

    “Many academicians have become aware of this fact as the number of conferences and participants increase dramatically.”

    Prof. Steve Adeshina of the Nile University, who was also the Chairman of the conference, explained that the conference was a collaboration between the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences.

    Adeshina said: “The conference is indeed a testament of the cooperation that exists between the two faculties.

    “The ICIES is to provide an enabling platform for students, researchers and professionals in the industry across various fields of engineering and applied sciences to share their current research works, exchange ideas and form collaboration for advancement of knowledge, technology and multidisciplinary research,” he said.

  • BREAKING: NCC, INEC chairmen to help Reps analyse transmission of election result in Electoral Act

    BREAKING: NCC, INEC chairmen to help Reps analyse transmission of election result in Electoral Act

    By Emman Ovuakporie

    The House of Representatives has adjourned till Friday by 10 am as the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Yakubu Mahmud and his Nigeria Communication , NCC counterpart, Umar Danbatta are expected to help analyse electronic transmission in the Electoral Act amendment process.

    TheNewsGuru.cim, (TNG) reports this is after a rowdy session that was experienced during the Clause by Clause consideration of the Electoral Act amendment.

    Clause 50-54 which entails the electronic transmission of votes has been a bone of contention in the House following the report consideration done by the deputy speaker, Ahmed Idris. While most lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) insisted on electronic transmission of results in the general elections, some members of the ruling All Progressive Congress APC opppsed it and advised that both manual and electronic transmission should be allowed.

    The argument lasted for hours without a final consideration of the report.

    Reverting to plenary, the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila ruled that the House which ought to had gone for its annual long recess on Thursday will continue tomorrow Friday where the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) executive vice chairman, Umar Dambata and his INEC counterpart will be in attendance to explain better on whether the electronic transmission of voting results is the way forward or not.

  • BREAKING: Senate passes new Electoral Act with restriction on electronic transmission of results

    BREAKING: Senate passes new Electoral Act with restriction on electronic transmission of results

    The Nigerian Senate on Thursday passed a new Electoral Act that will repeal the existing 2010 law, not without a restriction on electronic transmission of election results.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Senate approved electronic voting but on transmission of election results, the upper legislative chamber placed a restriction.

    The Senate voted that INEC must seek approval from Nigerian Communications Commission and the National Assembly on areas that have network or not before electronic transmission of results is done.

     

    Details shortly…

  • NCC refutes reports of 3 million new lines during ban on SIM card sale

    NCC refutes reports of 3 million new lines during ban on SIM card sale

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has disputed a report in the media alleging that mobile telephony subscriptions in Nigeria somehow grew by 3,000,000 new subscribers in the first quarter of 2021, despite the suspension on the registration of new subscribers.

    The ban on SIM card sale took effect from December 9, 2020 and was only lifted in May, 2021.

    NCC’s Director, Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, in a statement on Thursday, noted that the Ericsson Mobility Report cited in the online publication was essentially a forecast of trends based on Ericsson’s analysis and does not refer to the NCC or any official channel as source for its data and/or projections.

    “It is therefore inaccurate that Nigeria recorded 3million new lines in the 1st Quarter of 2021 as stated in the media report,” the Commission’s spokesman said.

    According to Dr. Adinde, the NCC and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) “are the only authoritative sources of authentic data on the Nigerian telecommunications sector. Indeed, the Commission is well aware of the critical need to make accurate and up-to-date data available to all Stakeholders.”

    “Indeed, as a matter of corporate policy and consistent with international best practice, relevant data and statistics on the industry are transparently reported and regularly updated on the Commission’s website (< https://www.ncc.gov.ng/statistics-reports/industry-overview >) for free use by interested Stakeholders,” he added.

    The Commission also enjoined all Stakeholders to visit its website for authentic data on the sector and to refer all doubts to its Public Affairs Department to avoid unnecessary controversy and/or inadvertently misleading other Stakeholders who may rely on such reports.

    It further urged Stakeholders to disregard any information on subscriber data different from those presented in the Commission’s website.

  • NCC brainstorms with Judges on ways to adjudicate rise in telecoms conflicts

    NCC brainstorms with Judges on ways to adjudicate rise in telecoms conflicts

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Judges from across the country converged in Abuja to brainstorm on legal and regulatory issues in the telecommunications industry.

    Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in his welcome address at the 2021 Annual Workshop for Judges, on Wednesday, said the event would equip the Judges with practical insights into emerging issues in the field of telecommunications.

    “The aim of this forum is to further build the capacity of our distinguished Judges with practical insights into emerging issues in the field of telecommunications,” he said.

    Recall that the annual workshop organised by NCC, was conceptualised long ago and has held for 18 consecutive years to bring the judiciary up to speed with emerging issues in telecommunications.

    The objective is to enhance the capacity of the judiciary to dispense justice in telecommunications cases from an informed position oriented in appropriate and contemporary knowledge.

    Danbatta expressed hope that the workshop would contribute to the development of telecommunications law in Nigeria.

    He, therefore, urged the Judges to freely make contributions and raise issues that would assist the Commission come up with adequate regulatory measures that would enhance development in the Communications sector of the economy.

    Declaring the Workshop open, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), and Chairman, Board of Governors of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Justice Tanko Muhammad, assured that the Nigerian Judiciary was committed to the development of telecommunications sector.

    Represented by Justice John Okoro, Tanko said that the judiciary would spare no efforts in ensuring transparent and speedy dispensation of justice.

    The CJN expressed confidence that the forum would further equip Judicial Officers with the legal and technical skills required for adjudicating disputes in this special area of the law, and in so doing, keep them abreast of global best practices.

    “This workshop essentially avails the participants an opportunity to rub minds on current challenges confronting the telecom sector.

    “I have no doubt that this forum will further equip Judicial Officers with the legal and technical skills required for adjudicating disputes in this special area of the law, and in so doing, keep them abreast of global best practices.

    “I must commend the Nigerian Communications Commission for rising up to the occasion in its bid to protect consumers from unfair practices by service providers.

    “The Judiciary on its part will not rest on its oars, as we will continue to interpret the relevant laws in line with extant provisions of the Law.

    “Let me assure you that the Nigerian Judiciary is committed to the development of the telecommunications sector and will spare no effort in ensuring transparent and speedy dispensation of justice.

    “In this light, investors and stakeholders in the sector will be assured that their assets and investments are secured,” he said.

    Earlier, the Administrator, NJI, Justice Roseline Bozimo, said the Workshop, over the years had exposed judicial officers to the rudiments of legal issues and technical aspects of the sector in order to keep them abreast of International Best Practices.

    According to Bazimo the workshop will deliberate on such issues as: Developing Telecommunications Law; Jurisprudence and Judicial Precedents; An X-ray of the Nigeria Communications Act 2003; Adjudicating Conflicts in the Era of Digital Presence and Online Identity.

    Others are: Liability and Attribution of Ownership of Online Content and Materials; Cyber Security and Safe Use of the Internet in Nigeria; Social Media Platforms as Channels for Service of Court Processes and its Challenges; Online Financial Fraud Gatekeeper: The Platform Owner or the Service Provider; and Data Harmonisation and Integrity: Linkage of SIM and NIN Data”.

    Ownership of online contents and materials, digital presence and online identity are among the numerous legal issues deliberated upon at the workshop.

  • NCC surpasses revenue projection, records N150bn spectrum fees

    NCC surpasses revenue projection, records N150bn spectrum fees

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has exceeded its N36 billion projected revenue from spectrum license fees for 2021.

    The Commission said that it had recorded over N150 billion from this revenue source within the five months of the year.

    Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, Director, Public Affairs, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    Adinde said that the figure represents over 400 per cent increase in revenue budget performance in respect of spectrum fees generated by the commission between January 1 and May 31, 2021.

    He said that this reflected significant contribution to the revenue drive of the Federal Government.

    According to him, the N150 billion spectrum revenue achieved in the first half of the year has been remitted to the government in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA), 2003.

    The act mandates the Commission to remit proceeds from spectrum resources wholly into the government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).

    The Commission, in its 2021 Budget, approved by both chambers of the National Assembly in December, 2020, projected a revenue of N36 billion from spectrum fee for the year 2021 but has remarkably surpassed this estimate.

    He noted that over the years, the NCC had put in place an effective regulatory regime which had significantly facilitated advancements in the nation’s telecoms industry.

    The director also said that it boosted Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and improved the operations of licensees as well as boosted the government’s revenue generation.

    Commenting on the revenue performance, the Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC) of the Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said that the impressive uptick in spectrum fee was the result of the favourable turn of events for the telecom sector.

    Danbatta said that at the time of preparing the estimates for the 2021 Budget of the Commission, it was not clear due to the ravaging impact of COVID-19 on the global economy.

    He noted that the 10-year spectrum fees made by some of the major operators directly impacted the projected spectrum fee favourably.

    The EVC, however, said that the commission believed that enthronement of effective regulation would continue to improve the general performance of the telecoms sector.

    Recall that on October 28, 2020, the NCC had generated and remitted N344.71 billion to the government’s Consolidated RevenueFund (CRF) in the last five years.

  • NCC begins review of telecoms license structure

    NCC begins review of telecoms license structure

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has initiated a process for the review of existing licensing structure in the Nigerian telecommunications industry, according to Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, the commission’s public affairs director.

    The commission said that the move was in demonstration of its responsiveness to global trends and the new dynamics in the Information and Communications Technology ecosystem.

    In a statement on Tuesday, in Abuja, Adinde said that the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) Prof. Umar Danbatta had already inaugurated an in-house Standing Committee to carry out the task towards achieving the set goals.

    Danbatta, while inaugurating the committee, stated the need for the review as being informed by the wide range of technological advances and the convergence of technologies and services, which have characterized the global telecoms space over the years and whose impact was increasingly being felt in Nigeria.

    The current licensing structure is almost 20 years old, he noted, hence the need for an urgent review to reflect new licensing trends in line with international standards, while providing opportunities for improved revenue for government.

    “Therefore, it is evidently clear that this Standing Committee, drawn up from competent hands in various departments of the Commission, is perfectly suited and capable of addressing the enormous task of reviewing the existing license structure of telecom licensees in Nigeria,” he added.

    Danbatta noted that the work of the committee would be carried out in phases, to ensure effective delivery of its task and enable the commission to institute a process that would lead to the review of the terms and conditions of the various license categories.

    These, the EVC said, would include licensing fee, as well as identification of the limitations of the various license categories, with a view to clearly determining licenses that should be phased out or amended.

    He outlined seven-point deliverables expected of the committee to include, a comprehensive review on existing licenses; report and recommendations on consultative fora; and a report on recommended new license undertakings.

    Others include a report on recommended amendment to license fees and durations; a report on benchmarking of licenses with similar jurisdictions, a report on the impact of certain licenses on other license holders.

    These would be in addition to recommended solutions, as well as an updated regulatory framework for new and amended licenses as the case may be; and a final report on the project with all relevant recommendations.

    Mr Mohammad Babajika, the Director, Licensing and Authorisation, NCC and Chairman of the Committee, , assured the management of the committee’s resolve to deliver on the terms of their assignment.

    A new draft framework for new and amended licenses was expected at the end of the committee’s assignment and after due consultations with industry stakeholders.

  • Use Internet responsibly – NCC tells Nigerian youths

    Use Internet responsibly – NCC tells Nigerian youths

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called on Nigerian youths to leverage Internet/broadband access to unleash their potentials for innovation and creativity, as well as their quest for job opportunities and skills acquisition.

    The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, made the call during the presentation of 100 pieces of mattresses to the Federal Capital Territory’s Permanent Orientation Camp of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Kubwa, Abuja recently.

    The presentation of the mattresses was in demonstration of the Commission’s solidarity and corporate social responsibility (CSR) to support the replacement of some of the items carted away from the camp by hoodlums during the EndSARS protests of October 27, 2020.

    Speaking on behalf of Danbatta during the presentation, NCC’s Director, Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, said the youths play a great role in nation building as they contribute to national development by bringing about social reforms, noting that the NCC will always support the course of the youth in the country.

    Adinde said the Commission, has various youth initiatives and programmes aimed at making them self-reliant while enhancing their contributions to the economy.

    He, therefore, charged the corps members to use Internet services for gainful and profitable activities, while also advising them to refrain from using their access to telecoms services for irresponsible and nefarious activities, which could land them in trouble.

    “Access to telecommunication services, especially the Internet, plays a key role in job creation for the youths and ultimately for accelerating economic development. It is critical to the overall socio-economic well-being of every economy and the youth have a greater role to play, as agents of social change, in using the Internet for positive ventures,” he said.

    He also charged the large gathering of corps members, who attended the presentation ceremony, to take advantage of the various consumer-centric initiatives which the Commission has emplaced to protect and empower them as active users of telecoms services.

    These include the NCC’s toll-free number 622 for consumer complaints resolution, the NCC Do-No-Disturb 2442 Short Code for dealing with unsolicited text messages, the 112 National Emergency Number managed by the Commission’s Emergency Communications Centres (ECC) located across the country.

    Meanwhile, NYSC FCT Coordinator, Abdul Suleman, expressed appreciation for the solidary and support shown by the NCC to the NYSC family, especially regarding the welfare of corps members deployed to the Federal capital for the mandatory one year service to the nation.

    “I am happy to receive 100 mattresses donated by the NCC, under the leadership of Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, to alleviate the pains inflicted by the miscreants who vandalized the camp. The generosity of the NCC is coming at a time it is most needed, especially with the orientation camp in session.”

    “On behalf of the Director-General, Management, Staff and Corps members, I wholeheartedly express our profound gratitude to the NCC for the magnanimous gesture and for investing in the Nigerian youths,” Suleman said.

    At the presentation ceremony, the Commission created a lot of fun and excitement for the corps members through the ‘fast-finger’ game where airtime of different network operators were picked up freely by the corps members. Smart phones were also given out to lucky winners of the raffle draw organized by the Commission.