Abuja, Dec. 28, 2024 – The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved the disconnection of Exchange Telecommunications Limited (Exchange) from MTN Nigeria Communications Limited (MTN) as a result of non-settlement of interconnect charges. The NCC announced the approval of the disconnection in a public notice signed by Reuben Muoka, its Director of Public Affairs, on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. It said the Exchange was notified of the application and was given opportunity to comment and state its case. The Commission, however, said, having examined the application and circumstances surrounding the …
NCC approves renewal of MTN/Ntel spectrum lease agreement
Lagos, Dec. 27, 2024 – The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved the renewal of MTN Nigeria spectrum lease agreement with Natcom Development and Investment (Ntel). Ntel is the successor to Nitel and is managed by Natcoms. Uto Ukpanah, MTN Company Secretary, said that the agreement would cover the lease of Ntel’s 5 MHz frequency division duplex (FDD) in the 900 MHz spectrum band and 10 MHz FDD in the 1800MHz spectrum band which spans nineteen states. The renewal is for another two years with effect from May 1, 2025. …
Internet usage in Nigeria rises to 270,398.28 terabytes
Lagos, Dec. 24, 2024 – Internet usage in Nigeria has been rising steadily in the last one year, according to the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) The internet services are being provided by the four main mobile operators of MTN, Airtel, Globacom and 9mobile. According to the latest statistics provided by the NCC on its website, internet usage reached the peak of 270,398.28 terabytes in October 2024, from the lowest level of 645,407 terabytes in November 2023. It rose steadily from 766.708.12 terabytes in February 2024 to 771,993.56 terabytes in March …
Telecom sector contributes 16.19% to Nigeria’s GDP in Q2 2024
Abuja, Dec. 19, 2024 – The telecom sector in Nigeria contributed 16.19% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the second quarter of 2024. The sector was the third largest contributor to Nigeria’s GDP during the period, coming after the crop production sector which contributed 20.35% and trade sector which contributed 16.39%. Other sectors that contributed highly to the GDP during the period are financial services with 6.04%, crude oil and natural gas with 5.70%, real estate with 5.17%, food, beverage and tobacco 4.44% and construction 3.17%. The contribution of …
Maida, NCC boss, highlights importance of structured protection for telecom infrastructure
Abuja, Dec. 5, 2024 – Dr Aminu Maida, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), has highlighted the importance of a structured approach to the protection of telecom infrastructure. Maida made the observation at the just concluded Workshop on Critical National Information Infrastructure Protection and Resilience in Abuja. He said this approach was essential to addressing the persistent issues of vandalism, fibre-optic damage, and restricted access to telecom facilities which the sector had long struggled with. He said these issues had also cost operators billions of naira and …
Maida repositioning telecom sector for improved service delivery – Analysis
By Tajudeen Atitebi Lagos, Dec. 2, 2024 – Dr. Aminu, Maida, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is steadily repositioning the Nigerian telecommunications sector for improved service delivery. Since his assumption of office in October 2023, Maida has worked assiduously to implement some projects earmarked by previous chief executives to address some key challenges in the sector. These challenges include the unbridled usage of mobile phones to perpetrate crimes, lack of transparency among operators, growing unethical practices and poor regulatory environment in the sector. Within a short …
NCC to roll out new tariff plans Dec. 13
Abuja, Nov. 29, 2024 – The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will announce a set of new tariff plans for telecom operators on Dec. 13. 2024. Dr. Aminu Maida, the Chief Executive and Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, announced this in Abuja on Thursday Maida, who represented by Reuben Muoka, the NCC Director of Public Affairs, promised that the new date would not be shifted unlike the previous date of Oct. 27. “On December 13, 2024, a new tariff plan will be announced against the old date of October 27. …
NCC directs licensees to submit updated contact information by Jan. 9
Abuja, Nov. 28, 2024 – The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed all its licensees to submit their updated contact information before Jan. 9, 2025. The Commission gave the directive on Wednesday in a statement issued by its Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka. It directed that the information should be submitted through the Commission’s eServices platform. The Commission said the directive, which is in accordance to the Licensing Regulations 2019, is essential for effective regulatory oversight and seamless communication with the licensees. The licensees are, therefore, required to update …
NCC to streamline telecom tariff plans for transparency, improved service delivery
Abuja, Nov. 26, 2024 – The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is planning to streamline tariff plans of telecom operators to check customers’ confusion due the current multiple tariff plans of the operators. Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, the NCC Director of Public Affairs, disclosed this in Lagos at a two-day workshop on the current trends in the telecom industry organised for journalists. He said research had shown that there were lots of confusion in the sector about the actual charges associated with each tariff plan. “The proliferation of tariff plans has made …
Don’t blame only network operators for poor services, NCC advises telecom consumers
Abuja, Nov. 24, 2024 – Dr. Aminu Maida, the Chief Executive/Executive Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has advised telecom consumers against blaming only mobile network operators for poor quality services.. Maida gave the advice while speaking on “Optimizing Data Experience: Empowering Consumers through Awareness and Transparency in a Consumer-Centric Telecom Industry” at an NCC consumer forum in Abuja. He said rather, the blame should be shared by all stakeholders across the value chain as it requires the collaboration of all across the value chain to produce services. The …