Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has introduced
registration fees on Type Approved telecommunication devices and short codes.
This is coming despite the existing 7.5% Value Added Tax
(VAT) and soon to be implemented 5% excise duty Nigerians are already paying
for and would be paying in telecommunication services.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications
Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, disclosed this to NewsDirect Newspaper
during a Three-day consecutive public inquiry on some draft Telecom Regulations
and Guidelines, where said the review became necessary due to current realities
in the industry.
“It is important at this juncture to state that all (5) five
regulatory instruments are existing instruments which are being amended to
reflect current realities.”
While the introduction of fees on type approved devices and
short codes was made known in a presentation by the Principal Manager,
Technical Standards and Networks Integrity, Department, Nwanze Onyeye during
his presentation.
“What the commission is introducing that was not there
before is payment for type approved Telecom devices and short codes which used
to be free.”
Speaking further Danbatta said, The regulatory instruments
being reviewed cut across all sectors/segments of the telecommunications
industry.
“The first instrument, the Type Approval Regulations,
provide a framework for the approval of communications equipment for connection
to communications networks in Nigeria, pursuant to sections 130 to 134 of the
Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.”
“The second instrument, Guidelines on Short Code Operation
in Nigeria, is intended to prescribe a standard of practice for providers of
short code services and to provide a revised framework for the provision of
these services and for the protection against misuse.
“The third instrument, being the Guidelines on Technical
Specifications for the Deployment of Communications Infrastructure, provides
standards to be adhered to by Communications services providers/operators,
designers, fabricators and installers of Communications towers and laying of
fibre optic cables towards ensuring environmental safety and sound engineering
practices.
“The fourth instrument is the Guidelines on Advertisements
and Promotions, which provides minimum requirements and standards for
promotional advertisements by licensed telecommunications operators in Nigeria.
“Finally, the fifth instrument, which is the Consumer Code
of Practice Regulations, amongst other things, sets rules for consumer
protection and prescribes the procedures to be followed by a Licensee in
preparing approved consumer codes of practice, in accordance with section 106
of the Act.
“It is pertinent to add that the Commission has also
introduced Business Rules for Type Approval to address issues that cannot be
catered for in the Regulations and ensure that the Type Approval process is
seamless.
“It is our expectation that this review will improve the
standards and procedures for Type Approvals, Operation of Short Codes and
Advertisement and Promotions, ensure a more robust framework for the deployment
of Communications Infrastructure and guarantee that the procedures to be
followed by a Licensee in preparing approved consumer codes of practice are in
tandem with current realities.” He added
Head, Telecoms Laws & Regulations, Legal &
Regulatory Services Department of the NCC, Ms. Helen Obi, said that Public
Inquiry is an avenue that allows the Commission to incorporate the comments and
suggestions of industry stakeholders, in the development of its regulatory
instruments.
She said that the Commission had held Public Inquiries on
the Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations, the SIM Replacement
Guidelines, Frequency Spectrum (Fees and Pricing, Etc.) Regulations, Annual
Operating Levy Regulations, Guidelines on National Roaming, Guidelines on
Colocation and Infrastructure Sharing and the Spectrum Trading Guidelines.
“This process ensures that the regulatory instruments issued
by the Commission are in line with the current realities in the industry.”
The event is slated to hold from Tuesday 9th August, 2022 to
Friday 12th August 2022 with the primary reason of repositioning the sector.
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