The NCC’s Three Critical Regulatory Instruments To Strengthen Market Structure
Touchaheart Nigeria reports that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, has established three key regulatory instruments to address difficulties in the ever-evolving communications industry and to further strengthen the market structure.
This was mentioned by Danbatta during his welcome remarks during the public inquiry into the three (3) regulatory instruments, which was held on October 5, 2021 at the NCC headquarters in Abuja’s conference hall.
The three main regulatory mechanisms are the Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulation, the SIM Replacement Guidelines, and the Spectrum Trading Guidelines. Speaking on the regulatory instruments, NCC Boss said that,
“the Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations, provides a regulatory framework for the registration of subscribers of communications services utilizing subscription mediums.”
“The second instrument, SIM Replacement Guidelines, provides guidance on the standards and procedure which Network Service Providers (NSPs) are expected to adhere to in the process of conducting a SIM Replacement, swap or upgrade.
It is pertinent to add that the Commission has also introduced Business Rules for SIM Registration and SIM Replacement to further ensure that the process for SIM activation and Replacement is seamless.”
“The third instrument, which is the Spectrum Trading Guidelines, seeks to promote certainty and transparency in the processes of the Commission by outlining the detailed procedure and conditions for Spectrum Trading in the Nigerian communications sector.”
Danbatta while talking about the importance of the Public Inquiry stated that “it is a precursor to the Commission’s current drive towards ensuring that frequency spectrum is readily available to Licensees through a rapid and effective process.”
“Also, in view of the resolve of the Federal Government to tackle insurgency and insecurity through citizen identity management, it has become necessary to ensure that the provisions of the Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations and SIM Replacement Guidelines are in alignment with the National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration and related activities.
It is also important to state that the revision of both instruments is geared towards ensuring a more secure and robust process for the registration/activation and replacement of SIM’s”
As mandated by Section 70 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, Barrister Adeleke Adewolu, the NCC Executive Commissioner Stakeholders’ Management, stated that the public inquiry will allow the Commission to develop and review its regulatory instruments by taking into account the comments and suggestions of industry stakeholders.
