The executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta has said the commission is committed to funding research proposals from the academia that will improve the telecommunication sector and boost businesses.
He stated this at the inauguration of the 18-member inter-agency committee for the evaluation of 2018 research proposals from the academia, pointing out that the objective was to utilize the capacity of members of the academia toward getting involved in research activities that could impact on businesses and the society.
He explained that such an impact could lead to the development of new products and services for the entire industry.
According to him, the sector has the capacity to expand knowledge in academia and consequently benefit from such contributions.
“Telecommunications has become a major catalyst and facilitator of growth and development of other industries. Our goal is to be able to use this intervention to address industry problems as well as some other social issues that need urgent attention. To achieve this objective, the committee members are challenged to go through every document to achieve fair assessment of every submission,’’ he said.
Prof. Danbatta explained that NCC was committed to the implementation of selected proposals due to their sustainability.
He said the committee had been empowered to recommend quality research proposals to the communication sector economy and by extension to create that social transformation that in practical terms add value to the quality of life of citizens.
He added that in 2017, the commission gave a little over N50 million, noting that due to commitment, it would exceed the amount in 2018.
In his response, the chairman of the committee and head of research and development department, NCC, Mr. Bashir Idris, said it was an opportunity to work with the academia to develop lasting solutions to challenges in the telecommunication industry.
According to him, the committee is a product of two of the executive vice chairman’s 8-point agenda on assumption of office which included promotion of ICT innovation and investment opportunities and strategic partnerships with relevant ICT stakeholders.
Idris said only 62 research proposals had been received this year, 35 percent short from the 95 research proposals received in 2017.
The executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta has raised the alarm over incessant vandalization of telecoms infrastructure across the country, saying it is undermining the Federal Government’s effort to achieve the 30 percent broadband penetration target.
Speaking at a one-day sensitization programme on the protection of telecommunications infrastructure in Minna, Niger State, he said telecom infrastructure should be owned collectively and everyone should work against their vandalization so they can serve the purpose for which they are meant because they serve all citizens beneficially.
“We want to sensitize the stakeholders not only the consumers, including the local governments and agencies of the federal government on the need to protect telecom infrastructure.
“This is actually key to the 8-point agenda which is to ensure quality of service and also broadband penetration.
“Also, because tampering with these infrastructure compromises the efforts of the government to meet the 30 percent broadband penetration target for 2018,” he said.
Danbatta who was represented by the commission’s head of zonal operations, Ms. Helen Obi, said NCC had achieved 22 percent broadband penetration and hoped to reach 30 percent target, stressing the need, therefore, to sensitize the stakeholders on not allowing the destruction so that they could serve the purpose they are meant to serve and so we can also ensure access and penetration of telecom services.
Earlier, the commission’s head of technical standards and network integrity (TSNI) department, Dr. Lawal Bello said the industry had continued to lose sums of money and services as a result of vandalization of telecom infrastructure.
He said the spate of vandalization of telecom infrastructure across the country had resulted in slowing down the growth of the services.
Bello outlined some of the challenges facing the sector as willful damage of telecom infrastructure in order to extort money from service providers, local communities or individuals barring technical staff of the service providers from installing equipment or carrying out repair on existing systems, criminal vandalism of infrastructure, diesel theft and digging up of cables for sale in the black market, among others.
Bello said the NCC on its part had been using various avenues such as the consumer outreach programme, telecom consumer parliament to sensitize the people as wel; as the sensitization awareness programme to educate Nigerians about the dangers associated with vandalization of telecom infrastructure.
In his remarks, the permanent secretary, human resources, Office of the Head of Service, Niger State, Mr Abubakar Salisu, called on NCC to give incentives to states that have less cases of vandalization.
Way back in the month of May, there were reports that the prices for data bundles and calls will be increased if Section 24 of cybercrime 2015 Act is implemented.
Now, the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) is preparing a data price list which will be released soon, as confirmed by the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta.
If the Cybercrime Prohibition and Prevention Act 2015 are eventually implemented, it won't be funny at all because we'll be paying up to 4 times more than what we're paying now for monthly data.
We’ll likely be getting 250MB for N1000 with 30 days validity and 10MB data plan at N100 to last you for a day, while calls may be charged at 1naira/sec.
The new price may not correspond exactly with the one stated above, but what is sure is that it'll increase and you shouldn't expect anything cheaper than what you're currently paying for data.
We've seen so many weird steps the government in some African countries use to regulate internet usage; like the Ugandans who pay a tax of 200 shillings daily just to access social media, and many other crazy stuffs like that.
It seems Nigeria is also heading in that direction, and despite the recent complaints by subscribers that data bundles are expensive, the NCC wants to add salt to the wound by further increasing it. Professor Danbatta made the disclosure on Thursday during his induction as a Fellow of the Nigeria Academy of Engineering (NAE).
The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, is set to issue a directive to telecommunications operators to give 14 days window to subscribers to enable them roll over their unused data.
The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Umar Danbatta, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos. Mr. Danbatta spoke at the NCC Special Day at the just concluded 2017 Lagos International Trade Fair.
The executive vice chairman said that subscribers would be given the 14 days grace, even if they do not renew on the date of expiration of their data.
He said that this would stop the present practice where subscribers would lose the entire unused data if they failed to renew on the date of the expiration of the present subscription.
According to him, NCC recognises that telecommunications services are very important to the nation’s development.
“NCC also recognizes more importantly, that the consumers of telecommunications services deserve to get value for their money.
“NCC also recognises that consumer should be treated as a very important stakeholder in the scheme of things as far as service delivery is concerned.
“Let me recall that in the 8-Points Agenda of my administration, the issue of empowerment and protection of the consumer occupied the sixth position.
“The vision in this agenda is to protect consumers from unfair practices through availability of information and education to make informed choices in the use of ICT services.
“The strategy which we have adopted in achieving these agenda is to strengthen initiatives to educate and inform consumers in the use of communications,’’ he said.
Mr. Danbatta said that the commission had adopted the strategy to act swiftly and consistently whenever necessary in the use of enforcement to protect consumers’ rights and privileges.
He said that the regulatory body had put the service providers on special notice about NCC’s present monitoring of users experience and would call them to account in due course.
According to him, where the service providers continue to fail to improve services at the detriment of the consumers, the commission will apply appropriate regulatory actions and sanctions against such service providers.
“We have continued to use the mass media to create awareness about these consumer centric solutions and enlighten consumers that telecommunications masts and towers do not cause health hazards as a lot of people think.
“The commission still maintains that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has affirmed that no result of any such Hazard has been established against base stations.
“Therefore, any individual or community adducing such reasons to deny Right of Way (RoW) to the telecommunications companies, and prevent them from expanding services are invariably contributing to the poor quality of service in the network,” he said.
Source
NAN
The Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC) on Thursday said it was partnering with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to sensitise customers on mobile money banking fraudsters.
Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC made this known at the Consumer Conversation Forum held in Minna.
The forum was the fifth Consumer Conversation Forum organised by the commission within the North Central geopolitical zone.
Danbatta, who was represented by the Zonal Operations of NCC, Ms Helen Obi said it was important for the bank to talk to other banks to sensitise their customers on the issue.
According to the NCC boss, the sensitization is not to allow customers fall prey to fraudulent banking activities, especially as it regards to the disclosure of their Bank Verification Number (BVN).
“We entered a Memorandum of Understanding with the CBN to try and sort out the challenge customers are having with mobile money banking, especially with BVN.
“The reason for the MOU is to enlighten them to ignore deceitful or fraudulent message if sent to their mobile phones,’’ he said.
Danbatta said that the Consumer Conversation Forum was aimed at protecting, educating and empowering telecom consumers to know their rights as they played a strategic role in ensuring sustainable growth and development in the telecom sector.
He said that the commission was not leaving any stone unturned in ensuring that consumers got satisfaction from the services rendered by their telecom operators.
He debunked insinuations that the telecom masts transmit hazardous radiation as widely believed, saying `it is wrong’’.
“The antenna is positioned far away from human reach, therefore doesn’t pose any risk to human life.
“The commission has put in place guidelines that regulate the installation of telecom masts as well as consideration of environmental factors.
“Empowering the consumer is one of the commission’s driving forces for the year having declared it as the Year of the Telecom Consumer,” he said
He urged consumers to take advantage of sending “STOP” to the 2442 code to stop all unsolicited text messages, or “HELP” to the same code to be availed with options of interest.
He called on consumers to make their complaints to the commission via its toll-free line -622 if they were not satisfied with services from their telecom operators.
One of the participants, Mr Abdulahi Musa, the Desk Officer, Abdulsalami Youth Centre, Minna said that the forum was an opportunity for consumers to discuss the problems they encountered in their networks.
Musa said that the forum was a welcome development, adding that NCC should ensure that it was taken to every zone in the country.
Another participant, Mr Ahmed Bello said that NCC should ensure that all problems discussed in the forum were given adequate attention.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says the country currently ranks third globally in cybercrime, behind the UK and the U.S.
NCC’s Chief Executive Officer, Professor Umar Danbatta, disclosed this on Tuesday at the ongoing 2017 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Lagos.
The theme of the conference was: “African Business: Penetrating through Institution Building”.
Danbatta, at a breakout session with the sub-theme: “The Business of Cyber Law, Internet Policy and Privacy Rights” moderated by Augustine Alegeh (SAN) a former NBA President, said the number of internet users in Nigeria has hit 91.6 million.
“About N127 billion was the estimated loss to cybercrime in Nigeria in 2015; Nigeria ranks third in global internet crimes behind the UK and U.S.
“A critical factor militating against Africa’s economic resurgence is the weakness of its institutions.
“Nigeria ranks 169 out of 199 on the World Bank’s ease of doing business rankings; we are in a middle of a revolution and the rise of what we call the networked society.
“The NCC stipulates the laws of engagement that will make the cyberspace safe and ensure the confidence as well as the safety of the cyberspace,” Danbatta, a panelist, said.
“There are benefits and risks of the use of cyberspace and both has to be properly managed.”
As MTN Nigeria struggles to pay $3.2b fine imposed on it by the Nigerian Communications Commission, the company is being forced to rethink its sponsorship initiatives.
Last week, game show, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, announced that it was going on an indefinite break as its sole backer, MTN was ending its sponsorship of the programme.
As fans wondered why the popular show was being scrapped, its long-term host Frank Edoho put it in the simplest terms: ‘Sponsor say they no do again’.
Insiders at MTN say the move is directly connected to the drastic reduction of marketing budgets occasioned by the NCC fine.
According to a highly placed source who spoke to us under the condition of anonymity, it has simply become impossible for MTN to carry the burden of the heavy sponsorship it currently undertakes.
‘The marketing budget has been shrunk. It is a result of the NCC fine. The implication of paying that fine is will be felt across all marketing initiatives.
‘The truth of the matter is these things have implications and the implication for the fine is that the company has to prioritize its spending’.
Davido, Tiwa Savage and Don Jazzy recently lost their spots as MTN ambassadors.
MTN has had a rough ride in recent months – it declared a $200m loss in 2016. As a result, it relieved itself of 11 celebrity brand ambassadors that cost about one billion naira each year.
Davido, Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage, Dr. Sid, Sound Sultan, Banky W, KCee, Harrysong, Patience Ozokwor, Timaya and Sean Tizzle were all dropped as MTN ambassadors.
As expected, it is a source of worry for several entertainment industry practitioners who fear that this will have an adverse effect on their earnings as they all depend on advertising revenue from company such as MTN.
One of such fears is for Project Fame. There are rumours that the same issue that befell Who Wants To Be A Millionaire is hovering over the talent show that has discovered many Nigerian talents. Incidentally, it is also produced by Ultima Limited which produces WWTBAM.
MTN-sponsored talent show, Project Fame is rumoured to be under threat of losing its sponsorship
However our source says Project Fame would run, at least this year.
‘You know it is the tenth season so the company will do whatever it can to make sure it runs this year, although I’m not sure that it will return next year.
‘But MTN has really tried by supporting these initiatives. Even other companies who are not paying fines are finding it hard in this economy to sustain some engagements.’
The Nigerian Communications Commission fined MTN in October 2015 for failing to disconnect 5.2 million unregistered lines on their network. The NCC ordered the company to pay a fine of $1,000 per sim card, totally $5.2 billion but lowered it to $3.2 billion.
The first installment of the fine ($254 million) was paid in December 2016 and the company has two more to go.
This is a statistical report of the money spent on calls and other telecom services by the generality of Nigerians. The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has said Nigerians spent N3.66 trillion on telecommunications services in 2015 and 2016 respectively.
Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Umar Dambatta, dropped the hint at the flag-off of the NCC Year of Consumer at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
According to him, Nigerian subscribers spent $5.6 billion in 2015 and $6.6 billion in 2016, amounting to $12.2 billion (N3.6trn) on telecommunications services at an average exchange rate of N300.
The analysis of the amount showed that the N3.66 trillion spent by Nigerian telecoms subscribers is more than half of the 2017 annual budget of N7.298 trillion.
He said:
“In 2015, Nigerian telecom consumers spent a whooping $5.6 billion on telecommunications services. And in 2016, they topped it up by another $1 billion to make it $6.6 billion.That is why today’s event is remarkable. More remarkable is that the year 2017 is dedicated to the Nigerian Telecom Consumers.
”A management decision that compels us to seek to amplify our activities towards ensuring that the consumer enjoys a customer experience that is enhanced and consistent in time and quality.
“Just as their patronage is important, the consumer will be our focus. NCC intends to inform and educate the consumer with the sole intent of protecting and empowering them to make the right decisions. As a regulator, NCC has the mandate to ensure all its key stakeholders are protected and their interests balanced in an atmosphere of openness and transparency and within the framework of the NCA 2003 and other subsidiary legislations.”
Continuing, Dambatta noted that the Commission was rolling out new initiatives to achieve high quality of service by the service providers.
To address the two key areas of focus: improving the quality of service and protecting and educating the consumers on their rights this year, the EVC said the Commission had lined up measures to boost customer awareness creation in all the 774 Local Government Councils by ensuring prompt enforcement of the Do Not Disturb (DND) facility already provided by NCC.
In his goodwill message, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said the Senate was at the forefront of consumer protection, and on the verge of passing the Consumer Protection bill into law.
Saraki, who was represented by the Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Communication, Solomon Adeola, said the bill when passed into law, was expected to provide consumers with protective prices and further insulate them from any exploitative tendencies currently experienced in the sector.
The Nigerian Communications Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria have gotten a reprieve for Etisalat on the loan default crisis facing the company.
The Director of Public Affairs of NCC, Mr Tony Ojobo, in a statement on Saturday in Lagos, said that the reprieve came following a meeting convened by CBN and NCC to find a quick resolution to the crisis.
He said,
“Friday’s meeting succeeded in halting the attempt by Etisalat’s creditors at bringing it under any form of takeover
“Receivership was completely taken off the table in a meeting that was very productive and constructive.
“The meeting, which held at the CBN office in Lagos, had the consortium of banks being owed and Etisalat in attendance.
“The banks and the mobile network operator agreed to concrete actions that will bring all parties closest to a resolution.”
He said that CBN and NCC were able to secure for Etisalat the necessary “oxygen” to enable it continue to meet urgent operational expenses.
Ojobo said that CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele who chaired the meeting, was firm in declaring what needed to be done by both parties towards a quick resolution.
He said that NCC equally made it clear that everything necessary must be done to protect the 23 million Etisalat subscribers.
The director said that there was also the need to protect the telecom industry to prevent potential investors from developing cold feet.
According to him, effort has been made to ensure that Etisalat remains in business while the consortium of banks meet their obligations to their customers.
”A meeting will hold on March 16 to agree on a payment restructuring path going forward.
”The NCC will lead the CBN in a possible crucial meeting with Etisalat’s shareholders anytime soon,” he said.
On March 8, there was an attempt by a consortium of banks to take over Etisalat, because of its N541.8bn debt.
A consortium of some foreign and Nigerian banks, including Guaranty Trust Bank, Access Bank and Zenith Bank, have been having a running battle with the mobile telephone operator, over a loan facility totalling 1.72 billion dollars (about N541.8 billion) obtained in 2015.
The banks said their attempt to recover the loan by all means, was fuelled by the pressure from the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), demanding immediate cut down on the rate of their non-performing loans.
NCC appears not to be favourably disposed to the takeover proposal; as it believed that Etisalat is not only a viable going concern, but also willing and able to negotiate the servicing of its loans.
Etisalat is Nigeria’s fourth largest telecommunications operator with about 21 million subscribers as at January 2017.
It commenced business in Nigeria in 2009.
There is no argument that unsolicited messages have become a menace and a cause of serious headache to GSM subscribers in Nigeria. The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has received tonnes of complaints of embarrassing unsolicited SMS, defrauding with unsolicited SMS and Automated Calls besides complaints of their share volume.
The landscape of Bulk Messaging in Nigeria changed forever on July 1, 2016 when Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) mandated the Telecommunications service providers in the country to activate the ‘Do Not Disturb’ (DND) facility which gives subscribers the freedom to choose what messages to receive from the various networks or face sanctions.
In line with the above, NCC issued a directive to the telecommunications service providers in the country that starting from July 1, 2016, they must activate the ‘Do Not Disturb’ (DND) facility which gives subscribers the freedom to choose what messages to receive from the various networks or face sanctions.
What this means is that phone numbers on DND will no longer receive any text messages from third-party SMS providers. Although, you might wonder ‘but I never subscribed to such service’. Some subscribers were actually placed on DND list by default.
NOTE - when you send bulk SMS to a subscriber on DND, the operator will still bill you (deduct the SMS units) but the message will not be delivered. Recently, most trusted and efficient Bulk SMS Providers have gone a long way to develop some methods to prevent such losses, the providers developed a powerful infrastructure that helps filter out phone numbers on DND and Dead Phone Numbers before you send your messages.
HOW TO CANCEL IT
To Opt out and start receiving bulk SMS again, the GSM subscriber will need to unsubscribe from the service by texting "ALLOW" to 2442.
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