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Danbatta Canvasses for Time on Appropriate Broadband Pricing Study

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Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Office (EVC/CEO) Nigerian Communications Commission
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Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Office (EVC/CEO) Nigerian Communications Commission has asked for patience to enable the consultants contracted to ensure appropriate pricing for broadband services in the country to do its work.

 

Speaking in response to a question asked by reporters on the possible outcome of the retail price of the data services at the gathering of stakeholders forum to discuss possible ways of ensuring appropriate pricing for broadband services that was held recently in Lagos.

 

Prof. Danbatta, said “let us not be a little bit impatient. Let us exercise patience and allow the consultants to do their work.

 

“We have a date with them in April to look at the outcome of their study and debate it, and then, that will be when we will determine the price.

 

He added that, the role of the consultant is to determine a dynamic model that we can use to establish appropriate, affordable price for data and broadband retail in the telecommunication sector of the economy.

 

He also stated that input from all stakeholders in the industry are needed to fashion out a model that would yield an appropriate pricing for retail broadband as well as for data services.

 

“We need data from operators in the industry for the consumers; this data will serve as input to a model that would yield among other things the appropriate price for retail broadband as well as for data services.

 

“It is not possible for me to make a pronouncement on the price now, but more than the price, this study will empower the consumer, this study when it is completed would indeed have an important, positive social implication because services will be available, they will be affordable and they will be accessible. He stated

 

In response to a question on the 14 days grace for data rollover, Danbatta said “we have answered the yearnings of consumers in this country, who before the introduction of this very important direction, were complaining that they do not use up their data and this data they don’t know where it’s going.

 

“So we advised operators through the direction that we introduced to allow a 14 days grace for consumers to use such residual data.

 

“I think it’s in the interest of consumers to ensure they utilize this grace period to use their data.”

 

Danbatta however declined to comment on 9mobile takeover because the matter is before a competent court of jurisdiction and that NCC will not comment on it, until it’s resolved.


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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MTN Says New N6.98 USSD Charge Won’t Affect Airtime Recharge

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Lynda Saint-Nwafor, chief Enterprise business officer, MTN Nigeria, has assured the network subscribers that the new end-user billing system for the use of USSD services will jot affect them.

MTN Says New N6.98 USSD Charge Won’t Affect Airtime Recharge

USSD, otherwise Unstructured Supplementary Service Data codes are commonly used for banking transactions, airtime recharges, and other mobile services.

The telco said that  there is no significant impact or change other than the fact that they will now pay the same N6.98 per session (120 seconds) with their airtime instead of direct bank debit.

Saint-Nwafor, said this during a chat with MTN MIP fellows, explaining that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have ordered telecom operators to ensure that the new billing model resolves trust issues and ensures transparency in the billing process.

“Our regulator insisted that at the end of every month, we are going to be providing history and statistics on the performance of the service across the board”, she explained.

Saint-Nwafor added that the new billing model has standardized messaging across all operators and ensures consistent communication with customers.

“We will take all the error codes and map them into messages that are standardised across the board. So, if you initiate a transaction, you will know if it is failing. And, when the transaction fails, you will know if it is from your bank or the telco,” she explained.

 


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Crypto Scam Unmasked: U.S. Recovers Record $225m in Global Fraud Bust

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The U.S. government has recovered $225 million in what is now the largest seizure of funds linked to a cryptocurrency investment scam.

In a statement released Wednesday, June 18, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said the recovery followed an extensive investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service, using blockchain analysis and other forensic tools. The statement did not confirm whether any arrests had been made.

According to the authorities, the stolen funds originated from fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes that tricked victims into believing they were making legitimate investments. More than 400 individuals around the world, including dozens in the United States, were reportedly affected.

The operation involved a sophisticated money laundering network that carried out hundreds of thousands of blockchain transactions to obscure the source and ownership of the stolen assets.

“These scams prey on trust, often resulting in extreme financial hardship for the victims,” said Shawn Bradstreet, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Secret Service office in San Francisco.

Bradstreet added that U.S. officials hope the recovered funds can eventually be returned to the rightful victims.

Cryptocurrency investment fraud accounted for over $5.8 billion in reported losses in 2024 alone, according to the statement.


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Nnaemeka Ani Calls on African Techies to Rewrite the Narrative

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Hon. Nnaemeka Ani
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In a rousing declaration that is electrifying minds across the continent, Hon. Nnaemeka Ani, Special Adviser on ICT to Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has called for a homegrown digital revolution under the banner “Africa Will Rise: By Code, By Courage, By Us.”

Hon. Nnaemeka Ani

The message, part challenge, part philosophical—seeks to galvanize African innovators to move beyond buzzwords and build technology with impact and legacy in mind.

“Let’s stop building for hype. Let’s start building for legacy,” Ani urged while speaking to ICT journalists over the weekend. “Let’s stop waiting for someone else. Let’s start creating the future—on our own terms.”

At the heart of Ani’s vision is a shift from tech consumerism to tech authorship. With innovation hubs sprouting across cities like Enugu, Lagos, Kigali, Jo’Burg, and Nairobi, and a growing community of developers, engineers, and entrepreneurs determined to solve Africa’s unique challenges, the movement is already taking shape.

Ani emphasized that Africa’s future lies not in flashy apps or international admiration but in persistent, intentional solutions that uplift communities—solutions that digitize public services, bridge rural-urban divides, empower women and youth, and build resilience in food and climate systems.

“We have the talent,” he said. “Now it’s time to harness it—to stop building for likes and start building for lasting impact.”

With support from leaders like Ani and rising momentum in Africa’s tech corridors, it seems that a new chapter is being written—one line of code at a time.


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