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Telecom

Pomp, Fervour as NCC Marks TCP @ 10

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Eugene Juwah, EVC, NCC
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Encomiums poured ceaselessly last Friday at the event to mark the 10th anniversary of the Telecom Consumer Parliament (TCP), the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanism of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) as excited stakeholders toasted to the success and longevity of the platform designed by the Commission to bring stakeholders in the telecommunications industry together with the aim of resolving consumer complaints, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can report.

The event which was held in Lagos attracted the crème of the telecommunications industry; all which spared glowing commendations for the NCC for setting the TCP that also informs and educates stakeholders on topical issues that affect the industry.

Mrs. Omobola Johnson, minister of Communication Technology, commended the NCC for the establishment and management of the TCP, adding that more could be achieve through consumers’ continued suggestions.

Johnson, said that the establishment of TCP by the nation’s telecom regulatory body 10 years ago was first of its kind in the history of telecommunication.

This, she added, had earned the Commission great commendation from the International Telecommunication Union and respect in the eyes of other nations’ regulatory bodies.

Johnson who was represented at TCP’s 10th Anniversary in Lagos by Engineer Festus Daudu, director, Spectrum Management in the Ministry, charged telecom consumers on useful suggestions capable of assisting government and the Commission in policy direction and regulatory framework. 

“The Parliament since inception has made great impact and contributed to the development of telecommunication in the country. It has also assisted the Commission in its regulatory processes to ensure that both the service providers and the consumers all benefit from each other,” the Minister said.

On his part, Dr. Eugene Juwah, executive chairman and chief executive officer of NCC, said that the TCP’s edition was special due to the commemoration of the 10th anniversary on one hand and the celebration of the consumer as a king, on the other hand.

“Taking you through memory lane, Nigeria has witnessed a voice telephone revolution in the last 12 years when the total connected lines was mere 400,000 in 2001. Today, the total active lines in the country have reached a phenomenal 117 million as at the end of January 2014.  The next revolution is out regulatory agenda is ‘Broadband Revolution’”. He added

Acknowledging the role of Broadband to national development, Juwah said, the Federal Government has taken several steps including the articulation of a national broadband plan as well as continually taking steps at providing an enabling environment for the development of infrastructure that will support the growth and access to broadband services at affordable cost to consumers.

The framework to support the broadband infrastructure has been fully articulated and is being implemented by the Commission as reflected in the Open Access model adopted for the country.

Earlier in a welcome address, Maryam Bayi, director, Consumer Affairs Bureau at NCC, said the NCC receives complaints daily from its automated call centres from aggrieved subscribers over poor quality of service, drop calls and unsolicited text messages sent by operators.

By implication, many Nigerians are following the trends in the industry to register their grievances.

Bayi said at various occasions, operators had been invited for a meeting with the commission where they had received instructions to desist from dispatching unsolicited SMS, warning that operators would be sanctioned for failure to comply with the directive.

As part of pragmatic steps taken by the commission to ensure improved quality of service, the Director of Consumer Affairs Bureau said NCC has set up Quality of Service Unit in the commission to receive consumers’ complaints and protect their interests.

Bayo said that in the last 10 years, NCC has been addressing critical issues like quality of service, regulations for consumers, mobile number portability (MNP), among others.

She pointed out that NCC, specifically, initiated MNP for subscribers in order to promote competition among service operators as well as address the issue of poor quality of service in Nigeria.

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can also report that the event attracted industry wide approval and commendations from operators and consumer s.

Wale Goodluck, corporate services executive at MTN Nigeria, said that TCP has become an invaluable platform to ascertain consumers’ needs and complaints, adding that the MTN as a network holds consumer satisfaction high.

He commended NCC’s vision in setting up the Parliament, which according to him has lived up to its expectations in the last 10 years.

Goodluck maintained that MTN through its various programmes has affected the lives of consumers positively, especially through the MTN Foundation programmes.

 Nodding in agreement, Osondu Nwokoro, director of Regulatory Affairs, Airtel Nigeria, said the operator has not relented in heeding to consumers’ requests emanating from TCP sessions.

He added that Airtel is building a network the consumers shall remain proud of, hence TCP sessions provided them with knowledge on the directions, aspirations and demands of the consumers.

Also, Olajide Aremu, head of Network Operating Centre (NOC), Glo, said the network has always identified with the consumers, especially the students.

He said due to the opportunities provided by NCC through TCP, Glo has carved a niche for itself in the hearts of educational institutions hence it has connected several educational institutions with more on the line.

 Hajia Hauwa  Barkindo, a consumer who made it all the way from Kano state advised  telecommunications subscribers  to avail themselves of the TCP in resolving issues affecting them.

“I think the NCC has provided the best platform for consumer education and tackling the issues in the industry, it is left for us (consumers to use this platform”  Barkindo, added.

The high point of the event was the presentation of awards to some telecom companies for their resolving issues affecting consumers with Etisalat bagging the best network award at the anniversary.  


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Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

Telecom

NCC Wins Global ICT Award for Digital Awareness in Schools

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L–R: Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, receives the WSIS 2025 Prize (Category C3: Access to Information and Knowledge) from the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Doreen Bogdan-Martin, following the selection of the Commission's Digital Awareness Programme (DAP) as winner of the category.
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Nigeria, through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has won the 2025 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) prize for its project, the Digital Awareness Programme (DAP), under Category C3, which is on Access to Information and Knowledge.

L–R: Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, receives the WSIS 2025 Prize (Category C3: Access to Information and Knowledge) from the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Doreen Bogdan-Martin, following the selection of the Commission’s Digital Awareness Programme (DAP) as winner of the category.

The DAP, one of hundreds of projects submitted for the WSIS Prizes competition 2025, received the highest number of votes in its category, earning it the top honour. The programme equips secondary schools across the country with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) resources and provide internet connectivity to support teaching, learning, and research. Since inception in 2006, over 300 schools across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones have benefitted from the programme.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, received the award during the WSIS Prizes Winners 2025 Ceremony held on Monday in Geneva, Switzerland.

In his acceptance remarks, Dr. Maida thanked the hosts, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and WSIS, for recognising Nigeria’s efforts in promoting inclusive digital access across Nigeria, noting that the award would serve as further motivation for the Commission.

“This recognition is more than a celebration of past efforts—it is an encouragement to press forward. It affirms that investing in digital inclusion is investing in national development, and that Nigeria’s work is being seen and valued on the global stage,” Dr. Maida said.

Four other Nigerian projects—the Women Techsters and the Advanced Digital Empowerment Programme for Tertiary Institutions (ADEPTI) under Capacity Building, the Telecom-Based Research Grant Initiative under Enabling Environment, and the Digital Learning Initiative under e-Learning—were also celebrated for their nomination for the Champions Category of Projects at the WSIS Prizes Ceremony. Although they were not among the top-voted entries, they were acknowledged for their significant merit and impact.

The WSIS Prizes competition recognises and promotes projects that effectively leverage ICTs to advance sustainable development. The competition showcases how technology can serve as a powerful tool for addressing global challenges and achieving the SDGs. Projects from around the world are recognised annually, highlighting diverse approaches to building an inclusive information society.

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is a United Nations (UN) initiative aimed at building a people-centred, inclusive, and development-oriented information society. It provides a multi-stakeholder platform to address issues related to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and their role in achieving sustainable development.

The Forum is an annual event that brings together high-level representatives from governments, the private sector, civil society, academia, the technical community, and international organisations. It serves as a global platform for implementing the WSIS Action Lines, which are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).


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No More Excuses: NCC Sets Tough August Deadline to Tackle Telecom Hitches

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Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has given telecom tower operators in the country August 2025 deadline to fix persistent network hitches in their facilities or face regulatory sanctions.

The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the commission, Dr. Aminu Maida, reportedly gave the ultimatum during a high-level meeting with key industry players, attended by representatives of IHS Towers, American Tower Corporation (ATC), and Pan-African Towers, and mobile network operators (MNOs) last Thursday in Abuja

According to sources, discussions at the meeting focused on the recurring challenges in the telecoms sector, particularly power failures, equipment malfunctions, and insufficient site maintenance, that have been causing poor Internet and call services in the country

Specifically, Maida tasked the tower operators on the imperative of complying with the NCC’s updated Quality of Service (QoS) framework, which now extends performance obligations to infrastructure providers, not just telecom service providers.

According to him, the timeline given by the commission is more than enough time for all parties to align with the performance standards expected of them.

Recently, to ensure compliance with the standards, the NCC introduced a Major Incident Reporting Portal for real-time outage disclosures; developed public performance dashboards to enhance transparency; mandated that telecom tower companies meet strict Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Although the tower operators had previously cited delayed payments from MNOs as a reason for service lapses, the NCC had dismissed the justification, insisting that all parties must meet their obligations.

The EVC maintained: “Operators must fulfill both their technical and financial responsibilities. Poor service delivery—regardless of internal disputes—will attract consequences.”

Available data on the telecom tower infrastructure shows that IHS Towers has the largest assets with 16,000–19,000 sites, (62% market share); compared to American Tower Corp’s (ATC’s) about 8,270 towers; and Pan-African Towers’ 760–1,000 sites nationwide.

The latest NCC’s August deadline is believed to be putting pressures on the tower operators to improve the quality of their facilities for improved services as the commission had hinted of its plan to sanction defaulting operators with fines or stricter regulatory actions.

Industry experts believe that the NCC’s directive is a welcomed development as it will ensure reliable Internet connectivity and improved services quality for telecom consumers in the country.


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NCC to Chart MVNO Growth Path at Telecom Sustainability Forum 6.0

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Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is set to play a pivotal role at the upcoming 6th edition of the Telecom Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF 6.0), where it will lead a critical discussion on the sustainable growth of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in Nigeria.

Set against a backdrop of innovation and opportunity, this forum, organized by Business Remarks, aptly themed “Unlocking Nigeria’s MVNO Potential: Status, Trends, Investment, and Future Prospects,” is scheduled for August 26, 2025. This event reinforces the nation’s commitment to fostering a robust, competitive, and inclusive telecommunications landscape.

The forum will bring together a diverse array of key stakeholders from across the telecom ecosystem to deliberate on strategies for integrating MVNOs effectively into Nigeria’s rapidly evolving digital economy. With the recent advancements in technology and the issuance of 43 MVNO licenses to new players, MVNOs are poised to significantly enhance service delivery, drive digital transformation, penetrate underserved markets, and stimulate healthy competition across the sector.

As the global MVNO market is experiencing significant growth, with projections indicating continued expansion, experts believe that with the right regulatory environment and access to infrastructure, emerging markets like Nigeria can leverage MVNOs to unlock new value for both operators (by utilizing excess network capacity) and customers. Customers can enjoy a rich array of niche value-added services tailored to their needs.

Having been proactive in introducing a five-tier MVNO licensing classification, each with distinct services and a 10-year validity period, signaling a clear path for new entrants, the telecom regulator (NCC) will deliver a keynote address outlining the Commission’s regulatory framework, interventions, and commitment to ensuring a conducive environment for MVNO operations.

Mrs. Bukola Olanrewaju, Convener of the forum and Managing Editor of Business Remarks, emphasized the importance of collaboration. “TSSF 6.0 is designed to be a melting pot of ideas, bringing together Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), MVNOs, telecoms infrastructure providers, Internet Service Providers, industry associations, and technology experts,” she said.

“Our goal is to ignite discussions that will shape the future of MVNOs in Nigeria, ensuring their sustainable growth and their critical role in extending digital prosperity across the nation.”

The forum will feature interactive sessions, thought-provoking panel discussions, insightful paper presentations, and abundant networking opportunities. This event aims to provide a platform for stakeholders to share insights, address challenges, and explore collaborative pathways for sustainable growth.


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