The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communication
Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, has declared that three of
the Commission’s regulatory instruments are set to offer enabling
provisions that will help the country in tackling security and
insurgency; as well as to enhance spectrum availability to facilitate
the deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) technology.
The three instruments, which were subjected to a public inquiry on
Tuesday physically and virtually, include the Spectrum Trading
Guidelines (STG), Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations, and
the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Replacement Guidelines.
Speaking recently at a semi-virtual public inquiry, which on-site
operation was conducted at the Commission’s Head Office in Abuja,
Danbatta said the three regulatory instruments have been developed to
address the challenges of the ever evolving communications industry and
to further strengthen the market structure.
He said the public inquiry was held in line with the Commission’s
consultative approach in all its regulatory interventions, as the
regulatory instruments being reviewed are vital to ensuring that the
regulatory frameworks that pertain to SIM registration and replacement
in the communications industry meet the demands of the digital age and
also further enhance the flexibility of the spectrum trading regime.
Yhe first instrument, the Registration of Telephone Subscribers
Regulations, provides a regulatory framework for the registration of
subscribers of communications services utilising 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.
Besides the instruments, two Business Rules that relate to SIM
Registration and SIM Replacement, introduced by the Commission to
further ensure that the process for SIM activation and Replacement is
seamless and align with the national identity management policy.
The third instrument, the Spectrum Trading Guidelines (STG), seeks to
promote certainty and transparency by outlining the detailed procedure
and conditions for spectrum trading in the Nigerian communications
sector.
While underscoring that the availability of spectrum frequency is a
necessary element in the deployment of the 5G technology in Nigeria,
Danbatta said the recent approval of the 5G Deployment Plan by the
Federal Government makes the STG review process expedient.
Danbatta said the public inquiry 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.
Additionally, the EVC said that “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.”
According to him, the revision of both instruments is geared towards
ensuring a more secure and robust process for the registration,
activation and replacement of SIMs. “It is, therefore, my expectation
that the review will ensure a more robust framework for the registration
of subscribers of communication services, improve the standards and
procedures for SIM replacements and ensure effective and efficient
utilisation of frequency spectrum in Nigeria,” the EVC said.
Speaking earlier, NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management,
Adeleke Adewolu, said the draft of all the regulatory instruments had
been published on the Commission’s website and comments from all
stakeholders have been received and reviewed. However, he noted that the
public inquiry was meant to receive more comments from stakeholders,
which would ensure that the final regulatory instruments will enhance
development of the industry.
At the event, which was well attended by senior management staff of the
Commission and virtually by other external stakeholders, presentations
were made by the Commission on the inputs so far received from licensees
and other stakeholders on each of the three regulatory instruments,
highlighting issues for further rethink by all stakeholders.
The stakeholders who participated in the event virtually, were also
provided the opportunity to make inputs, contribute freely to the
discussions in a very frank and objective manner that elicited
thoughtful discussions that will further enrich the quality of the
regulatory instruments being developed for the growth of the sector and
the national economy.
