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  • NCC Sets For 5G Trial Thursday

    NCC Sets For 5G Trial Thursday

     

    The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC says it is set for the second trial of 5G in Nigeria.

     

    According to the commission, the trial which is scheduled to hold on Thursday is necessary in order to validate the national policy on 5G for the digital economy.

     

    The commission added that the supervised trial would be conducted by Airtel Networks Limited and its Original Equipment Manufacturer on Thursday.

     

    MTN Nigeria Communications had held the first 5G trial in Nigeria in 2019.

     

    In its ‘Draft Consultation Document for Deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) Mobile Technology in Nigeria’, the NCC disclosed that six locations across the nation were selected for this trial.

     

    The locations included, Abuja, Calabar, Lagos, Kano, Abeokuta, and Ibadan.

     

    According to the NCC, the key parameters it was looking out for included: Throughput, latency and jitter measurements; Co-channel interference impact on QoS; Handover performance between access points (as applicable); Type/models of 5G terminals used for the test; Types of services (voice, data, video, etc.) and; Health and safety (EMF radiation level).

     

    During the 2019 trials, the NCC disclosed that a 2GB movie was downloaded within 17 secs on 5G (using 26GHz) and 5mins on 4G network (using 3.5GHz) with a maximum download throughput of 1.7Gbps and 70Mbps respectively in Abuja.

     

  • GSM@20: Danbatta Bags Award As NCC Identifies Next Frontiers For Industry Growth

    GSM@20: Danbatta Bags Award As NCC Identifies Next Frontiers For Industry Growth

     

    As stakeholders in Nigeria commemorate 20 years of telecoms revolution in Nigeria, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has clearly identified key initiatives being implemented to consolidate the growth and gains of the telecom sector.

     

    Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, listed the digital frontiers while delivering a paper titled: ‘Telecommunications in Nigeria: The Next Frontier’ at the 20th anniversary of the telecommunications revolution in Nigeria organised recently by Compact Communications Limited, at the Muson Centre, Lagos.

     

    At the event, the Commission received a recognition award “in appreciation of its institutional support to the growth and development of telecoms in Nigeria”. The EVC of NCC also received a separate award “in appreciation of his immense contribution to the growth and sustenance of telecoms development in Nigeria.”

     

    Represented at the forum by NCC’s Director, Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Danbatta said in the last 20 years, the sector has witnessed significant growth in subscribers, internet usage, investment, innovation, contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and multiplier effects of the growth in other sectors of the economy.

     

    Danbatta stated that in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, NCC is driving new frontiers aimed at ensuring consistent growth of the nation’s digital economy sphere.

     

    According to him, as a foremost telecommunications regulatory agency and consistent with NCC mandate as stipulated in the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, and other guiding legislations, the NCC has been at the forefront of leveraging latest technologies and accelerating broadband infrastructure deployment to put Nigeria on the global map of the digital economy experience.

     

    In this regard, he said NCC was working to ensure increased broadband penetration in line with Federal Government’s targets as contained in the Nigerian National Broadband Pan (NNBP), 2020-2025. The NNBP was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari in March 2020.

     

    Danbatta explained that the NNBP has a target to achieve 70 per cent broadband penetration among 90 per cent of the country’s population. The Plan also seeks to achieve broadband speeds of 15Mbp and 25Mbps in rural and urban areas respectively over the next five years.

     

    “The Commission is also driving various initiatives aimed at facilitating the deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) Mobile Technology in Nigeria.

     

    Prof. Danbatta emphasized that a robust broadband infrastructure will play a key role in fast-tracking the effective deployment of 5G technology and facilitate availability of services associated with 5G technology.

     

    “Already, the Commission is set to auction some spectrum slots in 3.5GHz band and we have confirmed 97 per cent readiness for 5G deployment in this regard. This is in line with the marching order given to us by Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), following approval by the Federal Executive Council to proceed on our 5G Deployment Plan. The Information Memorandum (IM) for the auction had earlier been shared with stakeholders and we are set to auction the 5G spectrum before the end of the year,” he said.

     

    The NCC Chief Executive also said one of the initiatives being emplaced by the Commission to enhance the attainment of the next frontier for telecom development in Nigeria and the nation’s economic growth, is the ongoing review of licensing structure in the sector. This is to align telecoms licensing process with the wide range of technological advances, convergence of technologies and services shaping global telecoms space.

     

    Danbatta said the Commission has also finalized review of its Spectrum Trading Guidelines (STG). The STG, according to the EVC, allows spectrum resource in-country to be traded on the Secondary Market through Transfer, Sharing or Leasing (TSL) once the stipulated regulatory conditions have been complied with.

     

    Danbatta declared that NNBP 2020-2025 requires that these Guidelines be reviewed to ensure that un-utilised spectrum is fairly traded to facilitate rollout by other operators among others. The Guidelines will, therefore, facilitate the country’s yearning for ubiquitous broadband access in line with the economic agenda of the Federal Government.

     

    As vehicles for implementation of the NNBP, the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020-2030) and other similar digital economy policies, Danbatta said the NCC has unveiled its Strategic Management Plan (SMP) 2020-2024 and the Strategic Vision Plan (SVP), 2021-2025, which will ultimately drive the next frontier of growth in the telecoms sector. He said the two strategic plans embody critical areas on which the Commission intend to focus toward driving the implementation of the digital economy agenda of the government.

     

    He stated that the two regulatory documents (the SMP and SVP) encapsulate the totality of regulatory and policy initiatives, designed to re-invent and transform the telecom ecosystem, within the context of regulation, to a greater height. He added that this, to the Commission, is the next frontier for the sector. “While emerging technologies are disruptive by nature, Nigeria cannot afford to lag behind digitally and this explains Commission’s engagement with developmental regulations for the industry and we are irrevocably committed to this,” he said.

     

    Other individuals bestowed with recognition awards at the event include Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; and the former EVC/CEO of NCC, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, both for pioneering the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) revolution of 2001. The Zenith Bank also received an award for being at the forefront of leveraging technology for powering financial services delivery. Among the journalists who received awards is a veteran ICT journalist/Publisher, E-World News, Aaron Ukodie.

     

     

  • 5G: NCC Hosts Stakeholder Engagement on Spectrum Auction

    5G: NCC Hosts Stakeholder Engagement on Spectrum Auction

     

    As part of activities lined up for the implementation of the Fifth Generation (5G) Technology Deployment Plan in the country, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is set to host a stakeholder engagement forum this week.

     

    The forum will afford industry stakeholders the opportunity to discuss the draft Information Memorandum (IM) for the upcoming auction of the 3.5 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum band.

     

    Scheduled to hold at the Lagos Marriot Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, Thursday November 4, 2021 at 10:00 am prompt, the Commission has confirmed that the attendance at the event is open to all interested stakeholders in the telecoms sector and beyond.

     

    The decision to host the stakeholder engagement is in keeping with the provisions of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 and NCC’s distinctive tradition of robust stakeholder consultation on all telecom regulation-related issues.

     

    In June, the Commission inaugurated a committee to develop the IM for the auction of 3.5 GHz spectrum band, which will be utilized for early deployment of 5G technology services in the country.

     

    The Information Memorandum (IM) is a comprehensive document, which defines the process emplaced by the Commission for the auctioning of the 3.5GHz spectrum band. It also provides information on the Nigerian telecommunications market, details of the spectrum to be made available, the pre-qualification process, the auction process as well as the indicative timetable.

     

    The stakeholder engagement forum is, therefore, an important regulatory prerequisite for the planned auction of 3.5Ghz spectrum before the end of this year.

     

    Accordingly, the Commissions has called on interested stakeholders and members of the public to participate and make contributions to discussions around this important draft document.

     

    In line with the objectives of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) for a Digital Nigeria, and the positioning of Nigeria as an early adopter of digital technology as well as a major participant in the growing global digital economy, the successful and timely deployment of 5G is crucial for the country.

     

    The 5G technology is expected to facilitate several emerging technologies, generate innovate new use cases, spur significant socio-economic growth and create jobs.

     

     

  • Sokoto Asks NCC to Shut Down Telco Services in 14 LGAs Over Insecurity

    Sokoto Asks NCC to Shut Down Telco Services in 14 LGAs Over Insecurity

    The Sokoto government has asked the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) to direct all telecommunications companies to shut down their services in 14 LGAs in the state.

     

    This is coming less than a week after the house of representatives asked the NCC to shut down telecommunication services in three LGAs of Sokoto.

     

    In a circular seen by TheCable, the state government had asked Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, to issue a temporary shutdown of telecommunication networks in some LGAs as a measure to bring an end to banditry and other criminal activities in the state.

     

    On Monday, Muhammad Bello, spokesperson to Aminu Tambuwal, the governor, said the disruption in the telecommunication network will enable security agencies to deal with the increasing rate of insecurity in the state.

     

    “In any case, the state governor has requested the minister for communication and digital economy to block services of communication providers in 14 local governments in the state. Thirteen of them in the eastern flank where the insurgency is high. One of them in the southern flank which is also bordering Zamfara state,” Bello said.

     

    “As of this afternoon when the blockade began, it affected Sokoto metropolis which includes Sokoto south and north LGAs which are not in the list that was submitted to NCC. I think it could be a technical hitch that if rectified will exclude the Sokoto metropolis. That is the situation now.”

     

    The government noted that some bandits had migrated to Sokoto from neighbouring north-western states where they have been facing military actions.

     

    Earlier in the month, the NCC instructed all telecommunication companies to shut down their services in Zamfara over lingering insecurity in the state.

     

  • NCC Denies Renewing Airtel’s License

    NCC Denies Renewing Airtel’s License

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), says it is yet to renew Airtel’s Mobile Operating License.

     

    Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, made this known in a statement on Sunday, in Abuja.

     

    According to him, the attention of the NCC was drawn to a recent statement on an online publication, credited to the Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, to the effect that the mobile operating license of Airtel had been renewed by the Commission, for another period of 10 years.

     

    “Mr Ogunsanya was said to have made the statement while speaking in Lagos on July 14, 2021, during the media launch of Airtel’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme, ‘Touching Lives 6”.

     

    Adinde said that the Commission stated that while Airtel Nigeria had applied for the renewal of the Unified Access Service (UASL) License granted to it by the Commission, the application is yet to be approved, adding that it is undergoing required regulatory process.

     

    Ogunsanya, at the launch of ‘Airtel Touching Lives Season 6’ on Wednesday in Lagos, had noted that Airtel earned a ‘Social License’ through its commitment to empowering and uplifting people and making positive and lasting impact on lives of its stakeholders.

     

  • NCC Dismisses Report On 3 Million New Lines In Q1, 2021

    NCC Dismisses Report On 3 Million New Lines In Q1, 2021

     

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has denied a media report alleging that mobile telephony subscriptions in Nigeria somehow grew by 3,000,000 new subscribers in the first quarter of 2021, despite the suspension on the registration of new subscribers which took effect from December 9, 2020 and was only lifted in May, 2021.

     

    According to the Commission, the Ericsson Mobility Report cited in the online publication is essentially a forecast of trends based on Ericsson’s analysis and does not refer to the NCC or any official channel as source for its data and/or projections.

     

    In a statement signed by NCC’s Director, Public Affairs, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, the Commission noted that it is inaccurate that Nigeria recorded three million new lines in the first quarter of 2021 as stated in the media report.

     

    “We wish to use this opportunity to clarify that the Nigerian Communications Commission and the National Bureau of Statistics, (NBS) are the only authoritative sources of authentic data on the Nigerian telecommunications sector. Indeed, the Commission is well aware of the critical need to make accurate and up-to-date data available to all Stakeholders.

     

    “Indeed, as a matter of corporate policy and consistent with international best practice, relevant data and statistics on the industry are transparently reported and regularly updated on the Commission’s website (<https://www.ncc.gov.ng/statistics-reports/industry-overview >) for free use by interested Stakeholders.”

     

    The Commission encourages all Stakeholders to visit its website for authentic data on the sector and to refer all doubts to its Public Affairs Department to avoid unnecessary controversy and/or inadvertently misleading other Stakeholders who may rely on such reports.

     

    The Commission also urges Stakeholders to disregard any information on subscriber data different from those presented in the Commission’s website.

     

  • NCC Earns N150bn From Spectrum Licence Fees in Five Months

    NCC Earns N150bn From Spectrum Licence Fees in Five Months

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it generated N150 billion from spectrum licence fees between January and May 2021.

     

    This was announced in a statement signed by Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC director of public affairs, on Sunday.

     

    According to the statement, the commission said it surpassed its N36 billion projected revenue from the spectrum fees for 2021.

     

    NCC said the figure represents over 400 percent increase in revenue budget performance in respect of spectrum fees generated by the commission in five months.

     

    It said this reflects a significant contribution to the revenue drive of the federal government.

     

    The commission said the N150 billion spectrum revenue achieved in the first half of the year has been remitted to the federal government in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA), 2003, which mandates it to remit proceeds from spectrum resources wholly into the government’s consolidated revenue fund (CRF).

     

    Commenting on the revenue performance, Umar Danbatta, NCC executive vice chairman, said the uptick in spectrum fee was the result of the favourable turn of events for the telecom sector, which at the time of preparing the estimates for the 2021 budget of the commission was not clear due to the ravaging impact of COVID-19 on the global economy.

     

     

    Danbatta said the 10-year spectrum fees made by some of the major operators directly impacted the projected spectrum fee favourably, adding that NCC believes that enthronement of effective regulation will continue to improve the general performance of the telecoms sector.

     

    The statement also read that NCC has put in place an effective regulatory regime, which has significantly facilitated advancements in Nigeria’s telecoms industry, improved the operations of licences, and boosted gross domestic product (GDP) and federal government’s revenue generation.

     

    In October 2020, NCC announced that it generated and remitted N344.71 billion in revenue to the federal government’s CRF in the last five years.

     

  • It’s Automatic, Subscribers NOT Required To Submit IMEI— NCC

    It’s Automatic, Subscribers NOT Required To Submit IMEI— NCC

     

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has clarified reports that mobile subscribers will be required to submit the international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) of their phones to it from July 2021.

     

    The IMEI is an identity number used to uniquely identify a mobile phone. The 15-digit IMEI number is an electronic fingerprint transmitted every time a phone is used, which reveals the identity of the mobile handset.

     

    Earlier reports had said the directive is to be implemented within three months, as contained in the revised national identity policy for SIM card registration which was released on May 11, 2021.

     

    In December, the NCC had directed Nigerians to get a national identity number and submit to their network operators.

     

    It recently extended the national identification number (NIN) and subscriber identity module (SIM) integration exercise till June 30.

     

    Reacting to the reports, Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC’s director of public affairs, said at no time did the commission issue a statement regarding the registration of IMEI by subscribers and it has no plans to do so.

     

    “The reports in question have emanated from a section of the Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration recently launched by President Muhammadu Buhari and which has been uploaded on the Commission’s website,” the statement read

    “It is pertinent to state that the Commission is in the process of deploying a Device Management System (DMS). The DMS will essentially protect subscribers against phone theft and will identify and enable the elimination of fake devices from the networks. The system will capture IMEI automatically without any requirement for subscribers to submit same.”

     

    Adinde advised the general public to disregard the publications which have created the impression that telephone subscribers will be required to register their IMEI with their networks.

  • Buhari Directs Nigerians To Submit Phone ID in Three Months, Says NCC

    Buhari Directs Nigerians To Submit Phone ID in Three Months, Says NCC

     

    The Nigerian Communications Commission has said Nigerians will have to submit the International Mobile Equipment Identity of their phones to it from July.

     

    The regulatory body said this in the commission’s Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration.

     

    The NCC’s move to start the implementation of the Device Management System (a Centralised Equipment Identity Register) is backed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

     

    A portion of the policy said, “Accordingly, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has directed that the Device Management System should be implemented within three months.”

     

    The NCC said, “With the aim to curtail the counterfeit mobile phone market, discourage mobile phone theft, enhance National Security, protect consumer interest, increase revenue generation for the government, reduce the rate of kidnapping, mitigate the use of stolen phones for crime, and facilitate blocking or tracing of stolen mobile phones and other smart devices, one of the means to achieve this is through the deployment of Device Management System.

     

    “The implementation of a Centralised Equipment Identity Register otherwise known as Device Management System will serve as a repository for keeping records of all registered mobile phones’ International Mobile Equipment Identity and owners of such devices.

     

    “IMEIs that have been reported as either stolen or illegal will be shared through the DMS to all the operators and service providers.”

     

    The IMEI number is the mobile phone’s fingerprint. It is a 15-digit number unique to each phone. With the IMEI number, a phone can be tracked and located irrespective of the cellular number in it.

    According to an expert that helps the Nigerian Police track stolen phones, who asked for anonymity, said, “The IMEI of a phone allows us to track the phone.

     

    “It allows us to track the phone’s information, people the phone calls each day and the house address of the people that call on the phone.”

     

    The expert added, “I can’t disclose how the IMEI of a phone works. It is sensitive information. Leaking the secret helps the people stealing the phone bypass the information.

     

    “Some people already try to change the IMEI of stolen phones, but we know what to do to get the original one.”

     

    With this move, the NCC will have the IMEI numbers, NIN, and mobile numbers of every Nigerian.

  • NCC Gives New Directive on NIN for SIM Registration by Foreigners 

    NCC Gives New Directive on NIN for SIM Registration by Foreigners 

     

    The Nigerian Communications Commission has said foreigners not staying in Nigeria for up to two years do not need a National Identification number to register SIM cards.

     

    The regulatory body said this in its Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration.

     

    A portion of the document said, “Foreigners validly transiting through Nigeria or are employed in or reside in Nigeria for less than 24 months are exempted from the mandatory use of NIN requirement.

     

    “Persons in this category need to provide justification that they will be residing in Nigeria for less than two years.”

     

    However, NIN is compulsory for foreigners who have legal residency, or those who have lived in Nigeria for two years and above.

     

    “NIN is mandatory for foreigners with legal residency status or those living in Nigeria for two years and above. For those who do not already have a NIN, operators will capture the resident for NIN as part of the enrolment process, upon presentation of resident permit.

     

    “Foreigners with visitor’s visas (with visa less than two years) do not require a NIN. Operators will capture the following on their records; – International passport bio-data page and visa page.

     

    “Foreigners with diplomatic visas (including family diplomatic visas) will also require a NIN for their personal telephone lines if they are staying in Nigeria for two or more years.

     

     “Those staying less than two years will require the following for registration of their personal telephone lines: international passport bio-data page and letter from embassy indicating that their stay is for less than two years.

     

    “For embassies and diplomatic missions: The data page containing the passport number of the diplomatic passport of the Head of Mission/Embassy along with a Letter of Request signed by the ambassador or its equivalent for registration of the official telephone lines of the embassy /mission in Nigeria shall be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for verification and confirmation and registration of the SIMs;  SIM cards of the diplomatic missions are to be linked with a Corporate Diplomatic Identification Number, which will be unique to each diplomatic mission.

     

    “Each mission will also be responsible for managing the lines and allocating them internally.”

     

    It added that the Head of Mission would serve as the Telecom Master or Point of Contact for the Mission.