The Nigerian Communications Commission(NCC) said it has commenced the review of the National Telecommunications policy to align with emerging technologies.
Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida who disclosed this on Tuesday at media engagement said, the Ministry of Communications Innovation and Digital Economy is driving the review.
Dr. Maida revealed that the new policy focuses on ensuring robust internet infrastructure for high-speed connectivity and reliable applications.
The EVC added that the policy would also address the need for a simplified compliance and information disclosure.
He said,”Since the national telecom policy 2000; you’ll be pleased to know that we’ve started engagements with the ministry to revise the telecom policy. Because as per the act, the NCA 2003, we are to guide and provide input to the national telecoms policy. But it’s driven by the ministry. That process has started and that was also contained in Honorable Minister Bosun Tijani’s strategic blueprint, which he released early when he assumed office,”.
“So we need to let Nigerians know all our operators. Who is first, second, and third. And you know what that would do? The person who came last, he’ll be in trouble with his board. He’ll have to go and explain to his board. Or it will be an opportunity for him to tell his board, I need that investment that you have been denying me.
“We want to complement it with an information disclosure approach as well to drive that competitiveness. So that is why you’ve seen us increasingly releasing information, taking the bold step to make corrections to some of our data points, whether it’s the population rebasing we did, or posting in same linkage policy conclusion on the audit we did to adjust the numbers, which unfortunately led to one of the operators dropping significantly”.
“So in our approach moving forward, you’re going to see a lot of information disclosure. By the end of this month or sometime early in September, we’re also going to be releasing a public map for network performance. And this is based on information that is aggregated from all of us as consumers.So all the performance data as you’re using your devices as uploaded to the network. So this is independent data for you. It’s going to be aggregated and we’re going to put it on the map, which is going to be available publicly”, he said.
He further disclosed that, “We’re going to be doing quarterly performance reports based on that data where we’re going to give an extensive analysis of how the networks perform on various indices. All based on real data.So state by state there will be an analysis on various performance metrics. So download speeds, latency, how fast web pages load. So the things that matter for us from a quality of experience perspective.”
Maida, who said corporate governance was key to enhanced performance, added that “We looked at the indicators of good corporate governance. And then we looked at financial performance, service performance, service delivery performance, and regulatory compliance. And the link was clear.So corporate governance for us we see as a very, very strong tool to also use as part of our information disclosure and transparency approach to this industry,” he said.
While commenting on improved quality of service ,he said, “Everybody is yearning for improved quality of service and I’d just like to reassure you that we are working very very hard in very close collaboration with all stakeholders, the operators, the major ones, the MNOs.
“We have revised our QoS guidelines so no longer do we just hold the mobile network operators accountable. There are also the Tower Companies (TowerCos) that are not known by a lot; the people who provide power and security.
“Power and security are two big issues in the country today. So that category of licensee, the co-location service providers who we often refer to as the TACOs, we have brought them into scope to hold them accountable for quality of service.”
On failed banks top-ups, he said, “The director of consumer affairs with our counterparts in the CBN set up a task force. And there’s now a framework that is undergoing review to standardise the operations around top-ups and recharge
“We’re working with the banks through their regulator because nobody buys top-up with cash.”
On her part, the Head Public Affairs Department, Mrs. Nnena Ukoha, said, the media engagement between the commission and Journalists covering the ncc is to deepen their relationship.
“This relationship is to deepen the relationship between the commission and the media. That’s why we have increased our interactions with the media.
She called on media practitioners to always confirm or get information from the commission.
“Whatever you don’t understand, my doors are open, my phones are open. If you call me, maybe I’m engaged, please send me a text message or a WhatsApp message.”
The Director Consumer Affairs Bureau NCC, Freda Bruce-Bennett in her presentation educated Nigerians on how to manage data usage such as: turning off autoplay on social media apps and limiting background data consumption and others.
