TheNewsGuru

Tag: NCC

  • Ruggedman slams Okoroji over COSON’s suspension

    Nigerian rapper and public affairs commentator, Ruggedman has slammed Tony Okoroji over the suspension of the Copyright Society of Nigeria’s operating licence.

     

    In a lingering power tussle that has lasted for months, Tony Okoroji and Efe Omorogbe have laid claim to the leadership of the body.

     

    The Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC) recently announced the suspension of the operating licence of COSON.

    Speaking in a recent chat with Hip TV, Ruggedman said: “COSON has been suspended. Why has COSON been suspended? Because the head of COSON refused to go when the board voted him out.

     

    “When they give you a voted of no confidence, you step aside. That’s the gentlemanly thing to do.

     

    “But when the office is being questioned when they want to audit your account and you say no, it means you have something to hide.

     

     

    “If Tony Okoroji didn’t have anything to hide, he would not want to stop them from auditing the account. He was throwing lawsuits left, right and center like it was Christmas presents. Suing anybody that says anything pertaining to getting COSON’s account being audited.

     

    “So it was either he let them audit the account so business goes on as usual, artistes get paid their royalties. Even that one we’re having issues because it wasn’t clear how they were being paid. It wasn’t clear who exactly was being paid”, he said.

     

     

  • NCC to introduce new framework on infrastructure sharing, co-location

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it will introduce a more active infrastructure sharing and co-location framework to help the small telecom operators provide service to all Nigerians.

    Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC said this on Tuesday in Abuja while fielding questions from newsmen.

    Telecommunications operators had recently called on the NCC to look into the indebtedness of smaller telecom operators and support them to survive competition.

    Mr Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman, Association of Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), made the call at a telecom stakeholders’ forum recently in Lagos.

    Adebayo had said that reports and studies showed that big telecom operators survive more than small ones, urging NCC to help small operators survive competition from the bigger ones.

    Danbatta said that NCC has frameworks for infrastructure sharing and co-location at the moment to ensure that companies without the capacity to deploy their own infrastructure could pay and get a lease of infrastructure from the bigger ones.

    “Of recent, we are going to introduce another framework on active infrastructure sharing and co-location, meaning we are raising the bait.

    “In all our regulatory framework, you will discover we have palliatives for smaller telecom operators and those with about seven and a half per cent of the market share are given consideration in asymmetric regulations.

    “Asymmetric in the sense that we enforce on the bigger operators and we relax on the small ones,’’ he said.

    According to him, the asymmetry is a common characteristic of NCC regulations with the intention to protect the smaller operators.

    He said the regulation was to avail smaller operators a level playing field to play in a market dominated by the bigger operators.

    “The small operators are equally cared for and they are given the chance to provide services for Nigerians.

    “This is in order to ensure neutrality in the way and manner Nigerians subscribe to services, ‘’ he added.

     

  • ITU conference: Nigeria to deepen broadband penetration – NCC

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says that Nigeria’s participation in the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in Durban, South Africa will focus on attracting new investors to deepen broadband penetration.

    The Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Mr Tony Ojobo made this known in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Ojobo said this year’s participation would be to particularly attract new investors to the much sought broadband segment of the sector to meet the 30 per cent target by the end of 2018.

    “These investors will deepen Nigeria’s quest for pervasive broadband whose penetration level currently stands at 22 per cent,’’ he said.

    He said that riding on the crest of the successes the country recorded in the South Korea ITU Telecom World 2017, Nigeria’s planning committee for the 2018 edition of ITU Telecom World holding Sept. 10 to Sept. 13, 2018 has been inaugurated.

    Ojobo said that the Nigerian delegation, which will be led by Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, include the Chairman of NCC Board, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye; Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC Prof. Umar Danbatta.

    The theme of the 2018 ITU conference is: “Innovation for Smarter Digital Development”.

     

  • Mobile internet users decrease to 100.6 million in March

    Internet users in the country decreased to 100. 6 million in March from 100.9 million recorded in February, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has said.

    The NCC made this disclosure in its Monthly Internet Subscribers Data for February 2018 on its website on Monday in Abuja.

    The data showed a decrease of 308,440 subscribers in the country.

    Mobile Internet

    NCC said Airtel gained more internet subscribers during the month in review, while MTN , Glo and 9mobile were the big losers.

    The breakdown revealed that only Airtel gained the most with 401,209 new internet users increasing its subscription in March to 25,476,319 million from 25,075,110 in February.

    It said MTN however lost 534,769 internet users in March amounting to 37, 428, 647 as against 37, 963,416 recorded in February,

    It said 9mobile also lost 1,346,47 internet users in March decreasing its subscription to 10,997,506 as against 11,132,153 recorded in February.

    The data showed in March that Globacom lost 40,233 internet users decreasing its subscription to 26,693,756 from the 26,733,989 recorded in February.

     

  • Nigeria: Active mobile lines hit 149 million

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says active mobile phone lines in the country rose from the 148 million in February to 149 million in March.

    The NCC stated this in its monthly Subscribers Operator Data posted on its website. It said active mobile lines increased from 147,961,791 in February to 148, 854,338 in March.

    The Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), for active mobile lines, however, recorded 217,566 users in March, same as February.

    According to NCC, the number of Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) also rose from 81,498 recorded in February to 85,185 in March.

    The report said teledensity increased marginally from 106. 00 in February to 106.64 in March.Teledensity is the number of connected telephone lines for every 100 individuals living within an area, which varies across the country.

    The NCC also said the number of connected mobile lines in March rose from 237,621,583 in February to 238, 116, 977.

    The Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) for connected lines for March was 3,586.095, the same figure with January, the subscribers’ data revealed.

    The report said the number of fixed wired/wireless for connected lines in March increased from 345.195 in February to 355,485 as at March.

    Similarly, it said Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) for connected lines rose from 515,231 in February to 542,063 in March.

    The report, however, said the number of fixed wired/wireless for active mobile lines decreased from the 137,570 recorded in February to 136,781 in March.

     

  • NCC remits N49.7b to FG in first four months of 2018

    …This is in line with Fiscal Responsibility Act

    In compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007 (FRA 2007), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) remitted N49,792,870,113.00 (Forty-nine Billion, Seven Hundred and Ninety-two Million, Eight Hundred and Seventy Thousand, One Hundred and Thirteen Naira Only) to the Federal Government Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) within the first four months of 2018.

    This figure represents “Payment on Account” in respect of operating surplus for the year 2018. According to the FRA 2007, such payments are to be made every year after preparation of Audited Accounts. However, the NCC has taken the initiative to be making payments on Account as it generates revenue.

    Section 22, Sub section 1 of the Act states that “Notwithstanding the provisions of any written law governing the Corporation, each Corporation shall establish a general reserve fund and shall allocate thereto at the end of each financial year, one-fifth of its operating surplus for the year”.

    Section 22, Sub section 2 of the Act is clear about this: “The balance of the operating surplus shall be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) of the Federal Government not later than one month following the statutory deadline for publishing each Corporations Account”.

    The funds remitted are besides Spectrum Assignment fees which are remitted 100 percent to the Federal Government in line with Section 17, Sub section 3 of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA 2003).

    The section states that “the Commission shall pay all monies accruing from the sale of Spectrum under part 1 of Chapter VIII into the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CFR)”.

    The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and Chief Executive of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta enumerated how telecommunications has impacted the Nigerian economy positively.

    During a courtesy visit to the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele recently, Danbatta quoted figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to justify this impact.

    For instance, in the first quarter of 2017, telecommunications contributed N1.45Trillion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) while the figures rose to N1.549Trillion in the second quarter of 2017.

    “This performance at a period of recession is very remarkable”, Prof. Danbatta explained adding that “we are keeping dates with the NBS to identify and track how these trends continue”

    In general terms, telecoms industry contribution to GDP in Nigeria stands at 10 percent yearly in the last four years, Prof. Danbatta submitted.

    The EVC said these figures may not tell the entire story, because investments in human and material resources are on the rise daily.

    From a paltry $50million investment in the sector in 2001, the figures stand at $70billion as at September, 2017.

    Value Added Services segment of the sector investment is over $200m and estimated to hit $500m by the turn of 2021.

    The industry has provided direct and indirect employment to millions of Nigerians and over 150million subscribers are connected to various networks with broadband penetration currently at 22% according to the UNESCO/ITU Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).

    The NCC is working hard to achieve the 30% penetration according to the National Broadband Plan (NBP), (2013 – 2018), Prof. Danbatta submitted.

  • National roaming will end rural-urban digital divide – NCC

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), on Wednesday said that national roaming and active Infrastructure Sharing in Nigeria would end rural-urban digital divide.

    The NCC Executive Vice-Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta, made this known at a stakeholders’ forum on “Development of Framework for National Roaming and Active Infrastructure Sharing in Nigeria’’ held at Digital Bridge Institute, Lagos.

    Danbatta, represented by the Director, Spectrum Administration, Engr. Austin Nwaulunne said that national roaming had the potential of promoting seamless communication of subscribers.

    According to him, subscribers will be able to roam on the network of other service providers where their own service provider is unavailable or has limited network coverage.

    “The benefits of encouraging active infrastructure sharing can also not be over emphasised.

    “Not only will there be noticeable reduction in network deployment costs, the industry will also witness acceleration in the take-up of broadband services and gradual elimination of the rural-urban digital divide.’’

    Danbatta said that NCC was committed toward ensuring the continued growth and development of the telecoms industry.

    He said the industry in 2017 inaugurated an Industry Working Committee (IWC) to work out the procedure and modalities for implementing National Roaming and Active Infrastructure Sharing.

    “The past few years have seen the trajectory of the global telecommunications industry shift toward the implementation of cost-saving mechanisms which facilitate the effective utilisation of network resources for the provision of telecommunications services.

    “National Roaming and Active Infrastructure Sharing are two of such initiatives which have been successfully utilised to achieve improved coverage, cost reduction and the efficient utilisation of scarce network resources by regulatory agencies.

    “To ensure that these benefits are realised, pertinent issues such as quality of service, mobile number portability, issues of fair competition, billing and reconciliation, appropriate roaming agreements, extent of regulation required the need to continue to incentivise operators.

    “To rollout infrastructure in under populated areas which were also considered in the articulation of the framework,’’ he said.

     

  • Pre-registered SIM cards: Avoid trouble, NCC warns

    The Nigerian Telecommunications Commission (NCC) has warned consumers to stop buying pre-registered SIM cards because kidnappers and scammers might have used them to perpetrate evil.

    Mr Ismail Adedigba, Deputy Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, NCC, gave the warning on Thursday in Epe, Lagos, at the 37th edition of the Consumer Town Hall Meeting (CTM).

    The meeting, which had the theme, “Information and Communication as Catalysts for Consumer Protection”, was aimed at giving consumers appropriate information that would ensure protection of their rights.

    Adedigba said that some pre-registered and fraudulently registered SIM cards were being used for fraud and breach of security.

    “Consumers should observe phone etiquettes and desist from buying pre-registered SIM cards to avoid being victims of kidnappers and scammers,” Adedigba said.

    He expressed regrets that some communities were preventing telecom providers from erecting telecom masts in their areas because they believed that there were health hazards associated with erecting masts in residential areas.

    The official explained that radiation from masts was minor and posed no health hazards.

    Mrs Felicia Onwuegbuchulam, Director, Consumer Affair Bureau, NCC, said that the commission was determined to empower consumers with appropriate information to protect their rights.

    She said that NCC developed series of initiatives to empower telecom consumers.

    “We are organising outreach programmes across the country; we are also participating in radio programmes to educate consumers on their rights and privileges.

    “Consumers have the right to receive correct information on services they subscribed to and the right to be provided with clear, complete and accurate information in a language that will be understood.

    “These will guide them to make informed decisions on products and services offered to them.

    “Therefore, it is the responsibility of service providers to communicate information to consumers in a plain and simple language,’’ the director said.

    She said that service providers should ensure consumers’ access to information that would assist them in making informed choices,” she said.

     

  • We’re committed to carrying out reforms in ICT sector – Minister

    Mr Adebayo Shittu, the Minister of Communications, says the ICT Roadmap, if well implemented, will facilitate the development of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry.

    The Minister expressed the Federal Government’s commitment to the reform of ICT sector in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He said the implementation of the ICT Roadmap of 2017 to 2020, would also help to increase the sector’s contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP) through improved and better service delivery.

    He said that the roadmap came about as a result of views, proposals and recommendations of various stakeholders in the industry as to where the industry should be heading to.

    According to him, the roadmap defines the different roles that the different agencies of the ministry should undertake in order to use ICT to develop Nigeria.

    “The time NIPOST is reformed and became fully commercialised, it would have not less than five new companies.

    “One of them is NIPOST Banking and Insurance Company, NIPOST Property and Development Company, NIPOST Transport and Logistics Company, NIPOST e-Commerce Services and NIPOST e-Government Services,” he said.

    Shittu said the document also recommended two additional satellites for NIGCOMSAT in order to expand the infrastructure of the agency which currently has one satellite in orbit.

    He said by the time the agency’s infrastructure was consolidated, it would stop Nigerian entities from patronising foreign satellite companies, thereby reducing capital flight from the country.

    He, however, noted that having complied with the objectives of the roadmap, the supervisory, mentoring and regulatory roles of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had improved substantially with regards to the telecom operations.

    ‘’With regards to the internet operations, NITDA as a supervisor and regulator has also improved tremendously having regards to the ideas that are contained in the roadmap,” he added.

    On what the ministry is doing on issue of importation of fake and sub-standard phones into Nigeria, the minister said plans were underway to bring-up a legal framework against such practice.

    “For now, the thinking is still on as to how to bring a legislation which will enforce the customisation of phones that are coming in,” he said.

    He however acknowledged that the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Nigerian Customs Service had a lot to do in ensuring that the right products were brought into the country.

    “And you will agree with me that it is not really the business of this ministry.

    “It is the business of the SON and of the Customs to ensure that only the right things are brought in and the appropriate customs duties are paid on them,” he said.

    Shittu said he would love to be remembered as a minister who was the most acceptable by the stakeholders in the ICT industry and a minister who was ready to welcome every new idea by everybody.

    “I want to be remembered as a minister who came here, who was the most accessible minister by members of the general public; the minister who saw himself not as a boss but as a servant of the public.

    “And a minister, who was the most acceptable by the stakeholders in the ICT industry.

    “I am happy to say I have already achieved that because initially when I was appointed, stakeholders protested because I was not an ICT person but barely one and half years thereafter, I was given an award of fellow of the Nigerian Computer Society.

    “So a minister in whose time, NIPOST became repositioned, became reformed and became commercialised to such an extent that new companies never heard of in the history of any postal service, became established for Nigeria.

    “So, these are some of the things I hope before I leave office I would have achieved and much more,” he said.

     

  • NCC gives infracos ultimatum to deploy infrastructure or lose licence

    The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) has said Infrastructure Companies (Infracos) must rollout visibly within one year after issuance of licence or they have their licences withdrawn.

    The Executive Vice-Chairman of NCC, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, said this on Monday at an interactive session with newsmen in Lagos.

    Danbatta said the commission attained a milestone with licensing of four infracos in line with the recommendations of the National Broadband Plan.

    TheNewsGuru reports, in line with the Plan, the NCC recently licensed Zinox Technology Ltd. for South-East and Brinks Integrated Solutions Ltd. for North East.

    It earlier licensed MainOne Cable Company Ltd., which should provide services in Lagos Zone and IHS, which is to cover the North Central Zone including Abuja.

    “These infracos must rollout visibly in one year after issuance of the licence, or the NCC withdraws the licences,’’ the executive vice-chairman said.

    He said that the NCC had also introduced a subsidy for the infracos to be given to them on attainment of deployment milestones.

    As regards mobile money payment system, Danbatta identified security as a challenge to the system.

    He said that networks in Nigeria were not as secure as they should be, adding that stakeholders were concerned about it.

    Danbatta said that inclusiveness was one of the strategies of the National Broadband Plan.

    “There should be an arrangement that the rural populace has equitable access to telecom service.

    “Discussions are ongoing to see how we can overcome the security issue in service penetration.

    “Kenya had 60 per cent penetration; Ghana has 40 per cent, while Nigeria’s service penetration is nowhere near these figures.

    “The reason for the low service penetration in the Nigerian model is because it is bank-driven, and one of the challenges is security,’’ the NCC executive vice-chairman said.

    Nigeria developed a five-year strategy in 2013 to scale up the nation’s broadband growth by 30 per cent in 2018.

    The plan was developed by the Presidential Committee on Broadband with representation from the various stakeholder groups.

    The committee was co-chaired by former Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Ernest Ndukwe, and Zenith Bank Chairman, Jim Ovia.

    The plan recommended licensing of infrastructure companies (Infracos) for the six geo-political zones in Nigeria and Lagos as a stand-alone zone (due to its huge population and revenue-generating potential) to build fiber infrastructure, among others.

    It also recommended licensing of wholesale wireless operators and licensing of additional retail spectrum, and re-farming of existing spectrum to accelerate 4G services.