…As mobile subscribers hit 172m, Internet users 141 million, broadband subscribers 105 million
As a means of addressing noticeable gaps in the 2003 Telecommunications Industry Policy, the federal government has commenced a the review of the policies to attract foreign direct investments, improve quality of services and align with evolving technological developments and innovations in the digital ecosystem.
The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Aminu Wada Maida, who announced this on Tuesday in Abuja at a media interactive session, said that the review became necessary as a result of the global outlooks and dynamics of the telecommunications sector and the need to ensure that critical stakeholders, consumers and Mobile Network Operators, (MNOs) are on the same page on regulatory issues, enforcements, quality of services, profitability, competition, investments and safety of internet space.
Maida said the Federal Government through the Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani is driving the review, adding that by the time the review of policies are delivered, the sector would attract more investments and ensured increased revenues to the coffers of government.
Dr Maida said the Commission has noted with concern perceptions of consumers on data depletion, quality of services, tariff increase and the imperative of holding accountable service providers in the industry, adding that from research recently conducted by KPMG for the NCC, showed that consumers’ data are not depleted by Service Providers, but, mainly as a result of the types of phones devices and applications being used by consumers.
Maida said that within the two years of his appointment, the telecoms industry has witnessed tremendous growth, ensuring accountability and transparency in the ways things are carried out.
He noted that consumers now have opportunities to make informed choices on data consumption due to the NCC’s policy on data simplification by MNOs.
The NCC EVC also announced that Mobile Network subscribers has peaked at 172 million with broadband subscribers at 105 million and internet subscribers at 141 million, adding that investments in the sector exceeded the one billion dollars figure.
Maida further said; “This engagement is a response to calls for increased interaction with NCC’s leadership. You spoke, and we listened. In the early 2000s, we were regulating voice and text. Now we’re in the information age, with over 1,000 licenses under our purview. Scaling the old model is impracticable. We are now complementing regulation with transparency and data-driven competition”.
He also said that the NCC is adopting information disclosure strategies rooted in behavioural economics to nudge service providers toward improved performance and announced several consumer-focused initiatives that include a public map of network performance to be launched in September with a view to offer transparent access to real-time quality metrics that include download speed, latency and quarterly network performance reports based on crowdsourced user data.
The NCC further said; “We see corporate governance as a powerful lever for industry transformation. Transparent, well-governed companies attract investment and perform better. We’re setting the foundation for a Nigerian telecom company that is wholly owned, well-run, and globally competitive”.
Maida also said that another major issue is the Failed Top-Ups of data, stressing that a joint NCC-CBN task force has developed a new operational framework to standardize electronic recharge processes.
Speaking in turn, the Director of Consumer Affairs, Freda Bruce-Bennett gave insight into tips to assist Nigerians manage their data usage more effectively, including turning off autoplay on social media apps and limiting background data consumption.
Earlier in her address of welcome, Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, Director of Public Affairs assured of the NCC’s commitment to deepening its relationship with the media, saying that journalists as critical stakeholders have vital roles to play in the work of the Commission.
Ukoha said media forums are valuable platform for a two-way communication, that allows the Commission to share its policies and also obtain feedback from the public through the media.
