By The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) may soon review its policy on the National Identity Number (NIN) as a requirement for Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) registration and replacement, which is contained in the Guidelines on SIM Replacement of 2022.
Beyond that the NCC is also looking at suggestions and recommendation on self-service for SIM replacement as well as non-physical alternatives.
The Commission made this known today at a Stakeholders Engagement Forum on the presentation of the Report of the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) conducted by the Commission in 2024 on Eight Subsidiary Legislations:
Licensing Regulations 2019.
Enforcement Process Regulations 2019.
Registration of Communications Subscribers Regulations 2022.
Annual Operating Levy Regulations 2022.
Spectrum Trading Guidelines 2022.
Guidelines on National Roaming 2020.
Guidelines on Colocation and Infrastructure Sharing 2021.
SIM Replacement Guidelines 2022.
At the virtual meeting which was attended by TechnologyMirror, stakeholders made up largely of telecommunications companies operating in Nigeria called for provisions of the guidelines on infrastructure sharing to be reviewed even as they admitted that the Guidelines are very clear on the application process, procedures and timelines for active infrastructure sharing.
On the Registration of Communications Subscribers Regulations, 2022, the stakeholders raised concerns on the 48 Hour rule for SIM registration, especially for M2M, IoTs and Data only SIM cards.
Suggestions and recommendation on self-service for SIM registration and alternative non-physical approaches were raised by the MNO harping .on multiple NIN registration and its effects on pre-registered SIM Cards.
Meanwhile, the NCC in its RIA report stated that the Commission alongside 84 licensees are currently conducting a study on competition in the colocation and infrastructure sharing market segment.
The stakeholders also said that the Guidelines on National Roaming in Nigeria, 2021 needs to be reviewed and recommended that National Roaming should be through a dedicated link saying that the Guidelines should permit MNOs to adopt necessary network management practices for congestion on visited network.
However, the NCC report revealed that there are no provisions for obtaining approvals for National Roaming trial, even as the report indicated that since the issuance of the Guidelines in 2021, there have been four national roaming applications.
According to the Commission, since the initial issuance of the Spectrum Trading Guidelines in 2018, there have been three spectrum transfers, one spectrum leasing, and one spectrum sharing, adding that an approved spectrum trading application ended in litigation.
Meanwhile, the MNOs called for a post-approval compliance and review process to be embedded into the approval of all spectrum trading applications as well as streamlining of approval.
The RIA report stated that there are investigation and prosecutorial capacity challenges in enforcing the provisions of the Regulations noting that there are items in the Schedule to the Regulations that are not in line with current realities and may not capture all infractions adequately.
While making a request for a review of the Enforcement Processes Regulations, 2019, the NCC report said there is need to deepen capacity building for the judiciary as well as investigative prosecutorial agencies.
The RIA raised concerns on the Licensing Regulations, 2019 stressing that documentation requirements need flexibility to encourage start-ups and smaller entrants even as .concerns were also raised on the rising incidences of companies operating with expired licenses.
The stakeholders also raised concerns on the lack of tiered or instalment payment option for spectrum licenses saying that there should be more flexibility on commercial launch and rollout obligations and timelines.
On the Annual Operating Levy (AOL) Regulations, 2022 of the NCC, the that since the review of the Regulations in 2022, the collection rate increased by 22.9% while the AOL compliance rate reduced from 28% (in 2022) to 26% (in 2023).
It however noted 45 and 21 non-compliance enforcement actions were carried out in 2023 and 2022 respectively.
“There is need to expand the AOL collection bucket to ensure compliance by all license categories compliance roadmap needs to be developed”, the NCC noted.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said that the RIA process provided major stakeholders with an opportunity to offer feedback, as well as recommend areas for review and improvement that will enhance legislations.
“These enhancements will ensure the effective application and implementation of these Subsidiary Legislations” he said, adding that .the Commission remains committed to fostering a fair, transparent, and consumer-centric telecommunications landscape.
The NCC boss who was represented by the Head of Legal and Regulatory Services, Mrs Chizua Whyte said that the evaluation is important in determining the adaptability and agility of these legislations in reducing barriers to market entrance, entrenching fair competition in the market and facilitating effective and efficient utilisation of scarce resources. stakeholders.
In her own remarks, which was delivered by an officer in the Head of Legal and Regulatory Services Department, she stated: “The successful completion of this RIA demonstrates our unwavering dedication to building a regulatory environment that supports innovation, fairness, and transparency.”
She added: “As we transition into the next phase, the outcomes of this assessment will guide the Commission’s regulatory review and reform agenda. They will form the basis for amending and updating relevant subsidiary legislation to better align with current realities and future aspirations.”
