Tag: Telecomms services

SIM-NIN deadline now Sept. 14, as linked lines hit 153 million

Aminu Imam
NCC NIN

The Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC), has announced September 14, 2024, as the new deadline for all Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) to National Identity Numbers (NINs) linkage. NCC spokesman, Reuben Muoka, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, directing all mobile network operators (MNOs) to complete the verification and linkage of SIMs to NINs by September 14, 2024. “Effective September 15, 2024, the Commission expects that no SIM operating in Nigeria will be without a valid NIN”, the statement read. Mouka said over 153 million SIMs have been successfully linked to…

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Undersea cable damage causes Internet outage in Nigeria

Aminu Imam

…Telcos, banks hit Telecommunications companies and banks in Nigeria have been hit by an internet outage as a result of damage to international undersea cables supplying them with connectivity.  It was gathered that the damage affected major undersea cables near Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire and are causing downtime across West and South African countries. The West Africa Cable System (WACS), the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE), Main One, and SAT-3 cables are affected.  Some bank networks in Nigeria have been down and unable to process transactions as a result of…

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BON cautions FG on sale of spectrum to telecommunication operators

Aminu Imam

The Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) has cautioned the government to halt the sale of the spectrum primarily allocated to broadcast organisations to telecom operators because of the devastating effects the sale will have on future development of television and radio in the country. The organisation gave the caution in a communiqué issued at the end of its General Assembly and Annual General Meeting (AGM), held at Transcorp Hotel Abuja, and anticipated consequences it will have on the general public. The communiqué chairman, Ahaziah Abubakar Suleiman emphasised that the organisation…

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MTN Nigeria’s users to experience network outage for 7 hours over system upgrade

Aminu Imam

Mobile telecommunications giant, MTN Nigeria, has announced that some customers may experience service downtime for seven hours as it plans to effect a system upgrade tomorrow, Tuesday. The network provider made this announcement in an SMS to subscribers on Sunday. This means 81.21 million telephony subscribers and 64.06 million internet subscribers will experience service downtime on the said date. Recall that MTN had earlier in October made a similar announcement as it undertook a system upgrade on its machines. The CEO, Olutokun Toriola, while explaining the reason behind the network…

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FG suspends proposed 5% excise duty on telecom services – Pantami

Aminu Imam

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate suspension of the proposed excise duty on telecommunications services in Nigeria. The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, announced this yesterday, during the inaugural meeting of the Presidential Committee on Excise Duty for the Digital Economy sector, in Abuja. The minister said the sector is already overburdened by excessive and multiple taxations and faulted the Government’s plan to implement the tax. Recall that there had earlier been reports that Nigerians may soon start paying more for data, phone calls, and…

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FG freezes accounts of 50 firms operating loan apps

Aminu Imam

The Executive Vice-Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, (FCCPC), Babatunde Irukera, has said the agency has frozen accounts of over 50 firms operating loan apps in the country. Irukera, who made the disclosure in a published interview yesterday, noted that the action became necessary because the firms were violating the rights of Nigerian consumers. According to him, “We have so far frozen 50 accounts. We have taken over 12 applications off the Google Play Store and we are in discussions with more than 10 companies…

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Data, SMS cost hike not possible without approval, NCC assures Nigerians

Aminu Imam

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it will allow any tariff increase by telecommunication companies (MNOs) without adequate approval. The NCC stated this in a statement issued by its Public Affairs Lead, Ikechukwu Adinde, yesterday. The Commission said contrary to MNOs’ agitation to increase tariffs for voice and Short Messaging Services (SMS) by a certain percentage, the NCC wishes to categorically inform telecoms subscribers and allay the fears of Nigerians that no tariff increase will be effected by the operators without due regulatory approval by the Commission. The statement partly…

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Call tariffs may increase, as Customs impose 5% duty on recharge cards

Aminu Imam

President Muhammadu Buhari has reputedly approved the collection of five percent excise duty on telephone recharge cards and vouchers. According to an issued circular signed by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, directed the Nigerian Customs Service to create a tariff line for the collection of the excise on mobile telephones, electricity meters (components) and set up boxes at 5%. The circular conforms with another list of excisable items by customs to include telephone recharge cards and vouchers at five percent. The increase comes even as…

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MTN, Airtel, others justify planned 40% hike in call, data tariffs

Aminu Imam

Telecom providers in Nigeria, under the aegis of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, (ALTON), have justified their decision to increase data and call tariffs by 40 percent. This was made known by the ALTON’s Head of Operations, Gbolahan Awonuga, yesterday. According to them, the rising cost of operation in the country prompted its request for an increment in the cost of services offered by its members. The umbrella body of the telecom operators had, in a letter to Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC), urged the telecoms regulator to…

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Telecomms: “We may increase tariffs” — Telcos union warns

Aminu Imam

Telecommunications firms, (Telcos), have expressed readiness to introduce price differentials in regions hostile to their operations. The operators, under the aegis of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria, (ALTON), therefore, issued a seven-day warning and appealed to the Federal Government to urgently intervene on the challenges plaguing the sector. ALTON Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, who disclosed this during an interaction with newsmen in Lagos on Thursday, however, said before telcos begin discriminatory pricing, they would meet with the Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC). Adebayo said the challenges currently confronting members…

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