Telecom
NCC to Tighten Noose on Call Refiling, Masking & Sim-Box Fraud
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said it has zero tolerance for ‘Communications Fraud’ in the market.
Communications Fraud entails the use of telecommunications products or services with the intention of illegally acquiring money from, or failing to pay, a telecommunication company or its customers.
Speaking at the stakeholders’ forum convened by the Commission to present cost based study for the determination of mobile voice termination rate, Professor Umar Danbatta, executive vice chairman, said that is working to ensure sanity in the sector, especially with regards consumer products.
A comprehensive report of a seminal study undertaken by PriceWaterhouseCoopers for the telecommunication industry in Nigeria with a thematic focus on cost based determination of mobile voice termination rate, was presented to industry stakeholders at the Nigerian Communications Commission Head Office in Abuja, during the week.
Prof. Danbatta however, solicited assistance, understanding and collaboration to deliver on project objectives.
The EVC remarks delivered by Miss Josephine Amuwa, director policy competition and Economic Analysis at the Commission, called on stakeholders to supply industry statistical data promptly because of its centrality in the determination of appropriate interconnection termination rates.
An impeccable and functional interconnection regime is pivotal to enhancing competition and effective regulation.
The imperative of the project evidently found expression in the exponential growth in the number of subscribers, as well as in the volume of traffic on the networks, which are both shaped by the dynamics of technologies, and the existential realities of the global financial markets. Danbatta told the audience which is quite representative of the diversity of the industry.
Importantly, Danbatta noted that NCC has a duty to ensure that interconnection services are fairly priced, non-discriminatory, and reflect the real cost of providing such services in the market.
The EVC said he was quite pleased that the study will among other benefits provide opportunity to thoroughly examine the emergence of grey market activities in the telecoms industry in Nigeria such as call refiling, call masking, and SIM-Box fraud following the introduction of an interim International Termination Rate (ITR) for inbound international traffic.
Call Refiling, according to Wikipedia, is a form of interconnect fraud in which one carrier tampers with CID (caller-ID) or ANI data to falsify the number from which a call originated before handing the call off to a competitor.
“Refiling and interconnect fraud briefly made headlines in the aftermath of the Worldcom financial troubles; the refiling scheme is based on a quirk in the system by which telcos bill each other – two calls to the same place may incur different costs because of differing displayed origin. A common calculation of payments between telcos calculates the percentage of the total distance over which each telco has carried one call to determine division of toll revenues for that call; refiling distorts data required to make these calculations”.
Call Masking one’s telephone number, on the other hand, is simply having the means to either disguise the telephone number or display it as a different number as is the case for many companies who use what are known as non-geographical numbers, while A SIM box fraud is a setup in which fraudsters install SIM boxes with multiple low-cost prepaid SIM cards.
The fraudster then can terminate international calls through local phone numbers in the respective country to make it appear as if the call is a local call.
Accordingly, the Study’s eleven (11) focus areas include developing measures to reduce or eliminate grey markets in the telecoms industry in Nigeria; evaluation of the subsisting interconnect regime; and to determine if there is need for different termination rate for national/domestic and international traffic.
MTN Nigeria recently celebrated the graduation of the third cohort of its Media Innovation Programme (MIP), awarding a total of NGN 2.5 million in cash prizes to three outstanding fellows. The graduation ceremony took place at the Pan-Atlantic University in Ibeju-Lekki, highlighting MTN’s commitment to fostering innovation in the media sector.
Launched in partnership with the School of Media and Communication at Pan-Atlantic University, the MIP is designed to equip media professionals with essential skills in traditional journalism while emphasizing the importance of technology in storytelling. Over six-months, fellows engaged in a comprehensive curriculum that included topics such as media entrepreneurship, ICT in media, and ethical journalism.
During the graduation ceremony, three fellows were recognized for their exceptional contributions including the MTN Nigeria Chairman Award for Innovation awarded to Augustus Aigbe of Cool FM; the MTN Foundation Chairman Award for Innovative Reportage to Moninkanola Ogidan of Adaba 88.9FM, Akure and the MTN Award for Best Reporting awarded to Chiemelie Ezeobi from ThisDay Newspapers.
The Executive Director of MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya, emphasized the importance of the media innovation and adaptability in media, stating that these awards represent an investment in the future leaders of journalism. “At MTN, we believe a lot in excellence, which is why the partnership with Pan-Atlantic University is still ongoing. We recognise that the future of media lies in innovation and adaptability.
“These awards do not just celebrate the Fellows’ achievement; we are investing in the next generation of media leaders. In an era where digital platforms redefine how stories are told, media practitioners must be equipped with the skills and resources to thrive.”
Dr. Ikechukwu Obiaya, Dean of the School of Media and Communication, highlighted the significance of investing in future media professionals to drive positive societal change while maintaining ethical standards. “In recent times, technological innovation, social media, Artificial Intelligence and the likes have been viewed as dangerous, due to their misuse, although they are not in themselves bad.
“And this is one thing that drives our programs for media practitioners. Our vision is to train and equip competent and professional persons who will use these technological advancements and platforms as a means to contribute to the good of the society.”
The ceremony ended with the Class President, Nifemi Oguntoye expressing his gratitude towards MTN and Pan-Atlantic University for providing a transformative experience that fostered cultural diplomacy between Nigeria and South Africa. “We’ve had the privilege of learning from some of the best minds in the industry. The lessons learnt during our study trip, discussions and engagements have been invaluable. We are eternally grateful to Pan-Atlantic University and MTN for the commitment to empowering Nigerian journalists. A number of our colleagues look forward to having this experience in the next cohort and we know they will not be disappointed”, he said.
To date, MTN Nigeria has invested over NGN 300 million in the media. MIP not only aims to enhance the skills of individual practitioners but also seeks to contribute to a more robust media landscape capable of navigating the complexities of a digital economy projected to reach $18.3 billion by 2026. The event reflects MTN’s ongoing dedication to bridging the digital divide and enhancing media capabilities within Nigeria’s rapidly evolving landscape.
MTN Group and MTN Nigeria have expressed delight at participating in the 11th South Africa-Nigeria Bi-National Commission held in Cape Town on Tuesday, during which the strong bonds between the two countries were reinforced and plans were made to accelerate cooperation.
MTN Group CEO/President, Ralph Mupita and MTN Nigeria Chairman, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe with President Tinubu
The MTN delegation – led by Group President & CEO, Ralph Mupita, MTN Nigeria Chairman, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe and MTN Nigeria CEO, Karl Olutokun Toriola – was honoured to engage with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the sidelines of the meeting, which was hosted by South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Hon Parks Tau.
MTN Nigeria is an important MTN subsidiary, accounting for some 27% of all MTN subscribers and some 23% of Group service revenue.
MTN has long established itself as a company that is a proud supporter of the Nigerian economy, remaining committed to contributing to the nation’s progress across several fronts.
“We believe in the Bi-National Commission’s objectives and the pivotal role of the digital economy in driving inclusive growth in Nigeria. We look forward to continuing our support for economic development initiatives,” says a MTN LinkedIn post.
Digital Realty Nigeria’s CEO, Engr. Ikechukwu Nnamani, has received a prestigious Presidential recognition from the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) at the 7th .ng Awards.
Engr. Ikechukwu Nnamani
This accolade recognizes his significant contributions to the growth and evolution of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem over the past three decades.
“Nnamani was honored for his innovative spirit and leadership in shaping the future of the digital landscape,” said NiRA President, Adesola Akinsanya, while commending him and other awardees for their exceptional work in driving digital transformation in Nigeria.
A visibly humbled Nnamani dedicated the award to his dedicated team at Digital Realty Nigeria, acknowledging their pivotal role in the company’s success. He expressed gratitude to NiRA and the broader industry for recognizing his contributions.
This latest recognition adds to Nnamani’s impressive list of accolades, including the Lifetime Achievement Award at Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership Awards and the prestigious Titans of Tech Hall of Fame.
The 7th .ng Awards, a biennial event, celebrated the achievements of individuals and organizations that have made significant strides in Nigeria’s digital landscape.
The two-day event featured insightful discussions on emerging technologies, digital trends, and the role of the .ng domain in shaping Nigeria’s digital future.
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