TheNewsGuru

Tag: NCC

  • COSON Crisis: Troubled 2face calls for NCC intervention

    COSON Crisis: Troubled 2face calls for NCC intervention

    Nigerian music star, 2face Idibia is not happy over the lingering Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSCON) crisis. The revered crooner known for his peaceful mien has called on the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) to intervene.

    In a petition addressed to the NCC, the singer stated that Efe Omorogbe and other COSON board members were ‘being harassed, and intimidated’ by the police.

    He reacted against the backdrop of the lingering power tussle between Tony Okoroji and Efe Omorogbe, who are both laying claim to the leadership of the body.

    The petition addressed to Alam Ezekude, Director-General of NCC, was also sent to Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector-General of police, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He wrote: “It is quite unfortunate and disheartening that a simple call for accountability and transparency has degenerated into relentless media attack, harassment and intimidation of the group of people who made the call.

    “The personal interest of a few should not supersede the collective interest of generality of members and overall well being of the society.

    “I will like to implore you to use your good office to engage the Inspector General of Police with a view to setting the records straight and reversing the embarrassing and dangerous scenario where Mr Efe Omorogbe and Mr Joel Ajayi, chairman and members of the commission-recognised board acting well under the directive of the regulator, are now being harassed, intimidated, demonised and prosecuted by a sister government agency – The Nigerian Police Force.

    “COSON is formed and built by the collective efforts of like-minded industry stalwarts, and it will be a shame to see all of the hard work that has gone into building the society, go down the drain.

    “Our CMO is under siege and our commonwealth is threatened by Chief Tony Okoroji and his agents who for personal ends, continue to demonstrate deep contempt for regulation and the call for accountability.”

     

    Recall that Audu Maikori, a director on the board of COSON, recently advised Okoroji to let go of power or risk being “disgraced” like Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s dictatorial former president.

     

  • NCC hosts TheNewsGuru publisher, news editors, others in Lagos

    In keeping with the Commission’s standards of being transparent with all stakeholders including the media, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) held an elaborate meeting with media houses in which publisher of TheNewsGuru, Mideno Bayagbon was present.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BhomSKJlVPp/?taken-by=midenob

    TheNewsGuru reports the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta spoke with media chiefs and news editors from both traditional and online media organisations.

    Issues discussed by the NCC EVC at the event, which also hosted TheNewsGuru Group Managing Editor, Jewell Dafinone, bothers on the current strides, activities and challenges of the Commission towards improving telecom services and broadband deployment in the country.

    In this opening speech, Prof. Danbatta expressed his appreciation for the quality and quantity of media coverage in the telecom industry which has helped highlight Nigeria as a prime location for investment in Telecoms services.

    Danbatta spoke on the milestone achievement the NCC had reached by licensing four Infrastructure Service Providers (Infracos) and noted that a report by the International Telecommunications Union’s (ITU) showed that Nigeria’s broadband penetration had reached 22% with 30% being the target set by the National Broadband Plan by 2018.

    He added that a World Bank study had concluded that a 10% point increase in fixed broadband penetration would increase GDP growth by 1.21% in developed economies and 1.38% in developing ones.

    Also speaking at the event was the NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo, who thanked participants for their continuous and accurate coverage of the Commission’s activities and empathized the importance the Commission lays on its relationship with media practitioners who continuously help promote the activities of the NCC to the general public and International Community.

    At the event which held in Lagos yesterday, it became known that the acquisition of 9mobile by Teleology Holdings Limited is not guaranteed after it had made a non-refundable deposit of $50 million for the acquisition of the Nigeria’s fourth largest mobile operator.

     

  • Teleology Holdings ownership of 9mobile not guaranteed

    Arising from Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) meeting held yesterday, there is no guarantee Teleology Holdings Ltd. will take over 9mobile after it had made a non-refundable deposit of $50 million for the acquisition of the Nigeria’s fourth largest mobile operator.

    This is so as the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Commission, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta at the meeting on Monday in Lagos said the NCC will not approve the sale of 9mobile to any bidder without technical competence.

    He, however, confirmed a preferred bidder for 9mobile had emerged with the full participation of NCC, adding that the bidder was already undergoing financial evaluation.

    “Once the Central Bank of Nigeria has done the financial evaluation of the bidder, NCC will also examine the technical capacity of the preferred bidder.

    “If the financial evaluation process was not done properly, the CBN would address questions on that; the examination process is meant to be open and transparent.

    “The board of 9mobile was given the mandate with these requirements in mind,” he said.

    One of the technical requirements is that the eventual owner of 9mobile should have a certain technical expertise with a minimum of 3 years operational history which from all indications Teleology Holdings Ltd. is lacking.

    However, Teleology has entered an alliance with Safaricom, the largest network operator in East Africa, which could put Teleology in an advantaged position.

    If eventually, Teleology doesn’t get 9mobile, it means Smile Communication as the preserved bidder gets the offer.

    At the meeting, Danbatta also confirmed the NCC had licensed four infracos.

    “Recently, Zinox Technology Ltd. was licensed for broadband infrastructure provisioning for the South-East Zone while Brinks Integrated Solutions Ltd. was issued licence for the North-East Zone.

    “A subsidiary of MainOne Cable Company Ltd. had earlier been licensed to provide services in Lagos.

    “IHS was also issued a licence to cover the North-Central Zone including Abuja,” he said.

    Danbatta said that much work would still need to be done in the deployment of 4G LTE infrastructure needed to support data services.

    “For now, the directive is that 3G should be made 4G LTE infrastructure compatible,’’ he said.

    Danbatta said that telecommunications contributed N1.45 trillion to the Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2017.

    He said that the figure rose to N1.5 trillion in the second quarter of 2017 in spite of economic recession.

    According to Danbatta, telecommunications industry had investment worth $70 billion at September 2017 although the sector could not boast of $50 million worth of investments as at 2001.

     

  • Active mobile lines in Nigeria hit 148m in February – NCC

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says active mobile phone lines in the country rose to 148 million in February, from the 147 million recorded in January, an increase of 1, 096 ,646 million.

    NCC made this known in its monthly Subscribers Operator Data posted on its website.

    The Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), for active mobile lines, however, had 217,566 users in February, just as in January.

    The report said the number of fixed wired/wireless for active mobile lines in February was 137,262 , same in January.

    According to NCC, the number of Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) was 81, 498 in February, compared with 76,371 recorded in January, recording an increase of 5,127.

    Teledensity for February was 106.00 against 105. 21 in January recording an increase of 0. 79.

    Teledensity is the number of telephone connections for every 100 individuals living within an area and it varies widely across the country.

    NCC also said the number of connected mobile lines in February decreased to 237, 621,583 compared with 237,755,757 in January, a decrease of 134,174.

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

    The report said that the number of fixed wired/wireless for connected lines in February was 345.195 same figure with January.

    Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) for connected lines in February was 515,231 while January was 523,297, recording a decrease of 8,067.

     

  • Mobile Internet users increase marginally to 100.9m in February – NCC

    Internet users in the country increase to 100. 9 million in February from 1.2 million in January, 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 marginal increase of 670,385 new subscribers in the country.

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

    The breakdown revealed that MTN gained the most with over 762,366 new internet users increasing its subscription in January to almost 38 million from 37 million recorded in January.

    It said Airtel also gained 247.216 new internet users in February amounting to 25,075,110 million users as against 24,827,894 users in January.

    It said 9mobile however lost 146,034 internet users in February, decreasing its subscription to 11,132,153 as against 11,278,187 recorded in January.

    The data showed in February that Globacom lost 193,127 internet users decreasing its subscription 26,733,989 from the 26,927,116 recorded in January.

     

  • Over 10,500 business transactions carried out daily at Computer Village – CAPDAN

    About 10,500 business transactions are carried out daily at the Computer Village in Lagos, Mr Ahmed Ojikutu, the President of Computer and Allied Product Dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN) has said.

    Ojikutu disclosed this on Friday saying that these transactions were carried out by about 25,000 traders in 3,500 shops.

    “These business transactions are carried out by middle men, big dealers and even small retailers. Computer Village generates about N1.5 billion on a daily basis from both offline and online business transactions.

    “It is a tremendous job keeping businessmen and women under one umbrella, especially because the larger percentage of the people are educated and wealthy,’’ Ojikutu said.

    According to him, activities at the Computer Village go beyond selling mobile devices.

    “Going by the kind of transactions and money that change hands at the Computer Village, it can be described as a hub of technology-based activities from the level of repairs, refurbishment and software-related activities,’’ the CAPDAN president said.

    He said that the association was now collaborating more with government agencies and ministries than before to get their support.

    Ojikutu said that the association was also working with the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), Ministry of Communication and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

    “The Lagos State Government has given us a lot of support, but we need the government to do more because real time technology would be the only driving force that can take Nigeria to the next level of development.’’

    He said that the state government’s plan to relocate the Computer Village would materialise very soon, adding that the proposed site would be a well-planned ICT park.

    Ojikutu said that that there would be free WiFi and a general generator for power supply at the new site.

    He said that the association was making efforts to ensure that phone hand sets were produced in Nigeria, adding that the association’s partnership with the NCC was to create an avenue where young Nigerians would be trained to become technical experts.

    “What is hindering the production of phones in Nigeria is knowledge. We need to move from knowing how to use a mobile phone to building a panel.

    “The moment we start training the younger ones on how to place a micro-chip on a board and how to write a programme to adding a screen and led, automatically we have started developing ways to build a phone.

    “As we intensify efforts towards training our younger ones on ways to build phones, we hope to develop quality hardware gurus,’’ Ojikutu said.

    He said that the market for new phones in Nigeria was bustling as 95 per cent of Nigerians, who needed phones, went for new ones.

    “New phones are what people buy majorly, except for some Nigerians who, due to desire for phones that are in vogue and has all the features, will buy used ones at a lesser price,’’ the CAPDAN president said.

     

  • NCC processes infraco licenses for South South, South West

    Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says the Commission is currently processing licenses for four Infrastructure Service Providers (INFRACOs).

    He said the INFRACO licenses are based on NCC’s Open Access Model (OAM) in line with the National Broadband plan, adding that the licenses were being processed for the Infracos to cover for South South, South West and North West zones of the country.

    Danbatta made this known on Tuesday in Abuja during the signing of memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the NCC and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    He said the Commission is committed to leading the country to the destination of pervasive broadband services.

    TheNewsGuru reports that by the National Broadband Plan of 2013 to 2018, the country is expected to attain 30 per cent broadband penetration by end of 2018, with Danbatta saying the potential of broadband penetration were enormous, which explained why the entire global community was investing huge resources to exploit, and assimilate broadband.

    “The broadband penetration stands at 22 per cent and the target by the end of this year is 30 per cent and we have made progressed up to 70 per cent and I think that is a positive progress we have made,” he said.

    Danbatta said that a major milestone was achieved recently with the licensing of four Infrastructure Service Providers (INFRACOs).

    He listed the INFRACOs as Zinox Technology Ltd. for broadband infrastructure provisioning for South East Zone, while Brinks Intergrated Solutions was issued license for the North East Zone.

    According to him, a subsidiary of Main One Cable Company Ltd., had earlier been licensed to provide services in Lagos while IHS was issued a license to cover the North-Central zone including Abuja.

    “With a combination of licenses for infrastructure provision and spectrum auctions, and reframing of some of the existing spectrum to make them more efficient, we hope to attain the recommendation of the National Broadband Plan, and possibly surpass it by the end of 2018,” Danbatta said.

     

  • Payment systems: NCC, CBN reach milestone agreements

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday marked a milestone as the two regulatory bodies sign a memorandum of understanding on payment systems in Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru reports Professor Umar Garba Danbatta lead a delegation of NCC’s senior management staff to the governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele where the latter recommended the signing of the MoU on payment systems in Nigeria.

    According to a statement by the NCC, the MoU takes serious cognizance of very crucial areas of collaboration between the two important regulators with respect to financial inclusion strategy, already being driven by the CBN.

    The strategy also provides responsibilities of the two organizations towards the achievement of government’s objective on payment systems, including but not limited to mobile money services.

    Prof. Danbatta spoke on the Commission’s critical review of the existing framework for the regulation of mobile payments in Nigeria, within the membership of a Committee comprising of the CBN, NCC, NDIC and the NIBSS.

    He stated that the Commission is looking forward to signing the revised strategy of the Anti-money Laundering (AML) aimed at preventing, detecting, indicting and control of money laundering and financial terrorism.

    Mr. Godwin Emefiele spoke on the critical importance of telecoms on the Nigerian economy and also congratulated the Commission on its efforts towards protecting the interest of telecom consumers and service providers.

    The two regulatory bodies re-assured each other that they will continue to partner and collaborate on shared terms for the actualization of their mutual mandates and enhancement of human lives.

     

  • MTN makes part payments of N330bn SIM cards fine

    MTN makes part payments of N330bn SIM cards fine

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said that MTN has paid N165 billion out of the N330 billion fine imposed on it due to its inability to disconnect improperly registered SIM cards.

    Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of NCC said this on Monday in Abuja when MTN Group, led by its Chairman in Nigeria, Dr Pascal Dozie visited the commission.

    In October 2015, the telecom regulator imposed a fine of N1.04 trillion on MTN Nigeria for not complying with government’s rule on deactivation of unregistered SIM cards.

    Also, the fine was imposed on MTN for not disconnecting about 5.1 million improperly registered lines in its network within the stipulated deadline.

    After several appeals and negotiations including diplomatic intervention by the South African government, the fine was reduced to N330billion.

    MTN initially made a commitment payment of N50billion to the government while the remaining balance of N280 billion was to be paid in six tranches in accordance with the agreements between the regulator and MTN.

    “I am happy to inform you that our agreement with MTN on how and when to pay the fine has been adhered to.

    “Just last month, March, we received a cheque of N55billion from MTN as part of the fine payment plan.

    “This brought the total fine paid by MTN Nigeria to N165billion, that is, more than half of the fine

    “It is a whopping sum of money and they have not defaulted and these payments they are making is consistent with the terms of agreement we reached with them,” he said.

    He said that the installmental payment was in line with the terms of agreement reached between MTN and the regulatory body.

    According to Danbatta, the fine is aimed at ensuring that it is not business as usual but to ensure that the rules of engagement are respected.

    “It is also to ensure that the rules governing the telecom sector of the economy is adhered to,” he said.

    The NCC boss said that the commission would continue to cooperate with the telecom company because of its major contributions to the economic and digital growth of the nation’s economy.

    Earlier, Chairman of MTN Nigeria said Nigeria was one of the largest contributors to its market and the visit was to cement the relationship between MTN and NCC.

    Dozie appealed to NCC to auction more spectrums to further open up the ICT space and improve the country’s economy.

     

  • Delta Govt. partners NIGCOMSAT on broadband connectivity for schools

    The Delta State Government has commenced negotiations with the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) company for possible partnership in the area of broadband connectivity for schools and hospitals across the state.

    TheNewsGuru reports NIGCOMSAT Executive Director of Marketing and Business Development, Mr. Samson Osagie, with some members of his team on Monday met with, Mr. Bright Edejewhro the State Commissioner for Science and Technology in Asaba to fine-tune the details of the partnership.

    The state government is hoping to partner with NIGCOMSAT for the deployment of technologies to enhance teaching and learning in schools across the state.

    In order to deepen broadband penetration in Nigeria, the board of the Nigerian Commissions Commission (NCC) recently approved two additional Infrastructure Company (Infraco) licences for the South Eastern and for the North Eastern regions of the country.

    Also recently, the NCC said it will very soon license more Infracos and also auction additional spectrums in the bid to achieve its broadband penetration target for the country.

    Professor Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC said Nigeria is left with just 8 per cent to attain the 30 per cent broadband target set by the Federal Government by the end of this year.

    “At the moment, Nigeria has moved from 10 per cent to 22 per cent broadband penetration in the pursuit of the 30 per cent target set for December 2018.

    “Effort is ongoing to deepen the penetration as part of this administration’s eight-point agenda.

    “Plans are also ongoing to license Infrastructure Companies, Infracos, auction some frequency licences, while some are being initiated and some being reframed to achieve the broadband penetration target.

    “In broadband, we have moved from 10 per cent to 22 per cent broadband penetration at the moment. All these are going on simultaneously,” Danbatta said.