ICT

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ICT

50% Tariff Hike: NATCOMS threatens to sue NCC over high tariff hike

Lagos, Jan. 21, 2025 – The National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS) has threatened to sue the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over the 50 percent tariff hike announced on Monday. Deolu Ogunbanjo, the President of NATCOMS, told journalists in Lagos on Tuesday that his association did not accept the 50 percent tariff hike in the sector. He said the NCC did not consult NATCOM before taking its decision of the tariff hike. Ogunbanjo said NATCOMS had suggested between five to 10 percent tariff hike because it knew the likely repercussions …

Foreign General News ICT

TikTok shuts down US access as Trump seeks app’s reinstatement

Washington, Jan. 19, 2025 – TikTok disconnected access to its users in the United States late Saturday shortly before a national ban on the app was to take effect, with President-elect Donald Trump unable to intervene until he takes office. “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US,” said a message to users attempting to use the app. “Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.” “We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once …

ICT

FG to enact law to protect telecom sector, facilitate growth of digital economy – minister

Lagos, Jan. 18, 2025 – The federal government is to enact a law to protect the telecommunication sector and facilitate the growth of the digital economy. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, said this while speaking on “Prime Time”, on Arise Television on Thursday night. He said President Bola Tinubu would send the Telecommunication and E-commerce Bill to the National Assembly before the end of February and expressed optimism that the bill will be passed before the end of the year. The minister said the legislation would …

ICT Tech

Nigeria signs $2m agreement with US to expand fibre optic network by 90,000km

Washington D.C., Jan 17, 2025 – The federal government has signed a $2 million grant agreement with the US to expand its fibre optic network by 90,000 kilometers. The deal was signed in Washington D.C. during the just concluded US-Nigeria Technology Dialogue.   The Nigerian delegation to the Dialogue was led by Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy. The project is to be funded by the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) in its bid to support Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan for 2020-2025. A statement by the …

General News ICT

USSD Debts: NCC directs telecom operators to disconnect 9 banks

Abuja, Jan. 15, 2025 -The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has given approval to telecom operators to disconnect nine banks from their Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) codes due to unpaid debts. This directive was given by the NCC on Tuesday in a public notice signed by Reuben Muoka, the NCC Director of Public Affairs. The commission said the affected nine banks were out of the 18 that were originally indebted to the telecom operators and had failed to comply with the NCC directives on the debt payment. It listed the …

ICT

FCCPC partners NCC for adequate protection of telecom consumers

Abuja, Jan. 14, 2025 – The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) is partnering the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for adequate consumer protection in the telecom sector. The partnership agreement between the two agencies was signed in Abuja on Tuesday. Tunji Bello, the Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, signed the Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of his agency, while Aminu Maid, the Executive Vice Chairmand/Chief Executive of NCC signedon behalf of his organization. Bello said the partnership was to protect telecom consumers and promote fair competition by eradicating exploitative …

ICT Tech

Nigeria has lowest data rates in West Africa – ITU

Lagos, Jan. 12, 2025 – The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) says Nigeria has the lowest data costs in West Africa. It said data costs in Nigeria were one of the lowest in Africa and the world generally. The international agency disclosed this in its recent Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) report. The report titled: “The Role of Mobile Technology in Driving Digital Economy in Nigeria”, said Nigeria offered cost-effective connectivity services to data users nationwide with an average data cost of $0.38 for a gigabyte. “The cost in …

General News ICT

TCM urges FG to reconsider plan to increase telecom tariffs

Lagos, Jan. 12, 2025 – The Collective Movement (TCM), a socio-political group, has urged the federal government to reconsider its plan to increase tariffs in the telecommunication sector. It said the action would worsen the plight of average Nigerians who were already facing serious economic challenges. The group made the appeal in a statement issued by its Director of Media, Edwin Nwachukwu, after a meeting of its national leaders on Friday. It said that increasing telecom tariffs would further add to the burden of the citizens, especially low-income households. “Telecom …

ICT Tech

Higher telecom tariffs will boost productivity, lower inflation – Rewane

Lagos, Jan. 10, 2025 – Bismarck Rewane, the Chief Executive Officer of Financial Derivatives in Lagos, says higher tariffs in the telecom sector will bring about improved productivity and lower inflation. Rewane made the observation on Thursday while speaking on Channels Television’s “Business Morning”. He said tariff increases in the sector had the potential of reducing inflation because of its prospect of improving productivity. The expert commended the federal government for finally acceding to the demand of the telecom operators on tariff increases, adding that the government’s new position was …

ICT Tech

FG to approve new tariff rates for telecoms sector

Abuja, Jan. 9, 2025 – The federal government will soon approve tariff hike for operators in the telecoms industry. Dr Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, announced this on Wednesday after a meeting of the federal government and representatives of the telecom operators. The meeting was held to discuss the contentious issue of tariff hike in the sector which had assumed a crisis situation in the last few days. Tijani, who spoke on behalf of the federal government, said the federal government had agreed to accede …