The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will soon release Major Incident Reporting Guidelines for the telecommunications industry.
Dr. Aminu Maida, the executive vice chairman/CEO of NCC, disclosed this at the 93rd Telecoms Consumer Parliament (TCP) held in Abuja, last week.
With the Major Incident Reporting Guidelines, NCC will require operators to inform consumers of major incidents impacting their networks, “with these reports also accessible on our website”, according to the NCC boss.
Similarly, NCC is working on maps detailing MNOs’ network strength.
With this development, Maida said, “Consumers can also soon expect coverage maps detailing operators’ network strength across the country.
“These maps will indicate coverage gaps, service quality, and signal strength, allowing consumers to make more informed choices when selecting an operator”.
The EVC said that over the past months NCC’s data analysis has shown that quality service delivery is not solely the responsibility of Mobile Network Operators; it requires collaboration across the value chain.
“Key stakeholders, such as TowerCos, which provide power and shared infrastructure, as well as those providing essential backhaul services, whether by fibre, microwave or even satellite, connecting base stations to the core networks of MNOs, all play crucial roles in ensuring high-quality telecom services.
“In recognition of this, the Commission has revised its guidelines to include provisions that hold each player in the value chain accountable for quality service.
“While the Commission remains committed to these goals, the industry also faces challenges such as vandalism and theft of telecom assets, which frustrate operators’ efforts to deliver quality telecom services. In July, through NCC’s advocacy and collaboration with key stakeholders, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed a Presidential Order designating telecom infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure.
“This Executive Order strengthens our ability to address issues of vandalism, tampering, and unauthorized access to telecom infrastructure”.
“We cannot also ignore the effect of current macroeconomic challenges and the rising cost of business in the country which is impacting the ability of operators to make the necessary investments in the sector”.
“I want to reaffirm the Commission’s commitment to transparency and accountability within the sector. The Commission is finalizing our Major Incident Reporting Guidelines, which will require operators to inform consumers of major incidents impacting their networks, with these reports also accessible on our website.
“Consumers can also soon expect coverage maps detailing operators’ network strength across the country. These maps will indicate coverage gaps, service quality, and signal strength, allowing consumers to make more informed choices when selecting an operator”.
The EVC reminded stakeholders at the TCP that the goal is to create a truly consumer-centric telecom industry, in which consumers feel valued, informed, empowered, and satisfied with the services they receive.
