By The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has introduced new rules to improve the Quality of Service (QoS) offered by telecom companies. This comes after complaints about service issues, like dropped calls and slow internet speeds.
Under the new regulations, telecom operators must meet specific targets for things like call success rates, call drop rates, and network congestion. If they fail to meet these targets, they could face a fine of ₦5 million, plus ₦500,000 for each extra day they don’t comply. Telecom companies are also required to send monthly reports on their service quality. The NCC will monitor performance through surveys, drive tests, and data from its own network centers.
The new rules apply to all telecom companies using 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. The NCC says the goal is to ensure better, more consistent service for users and address complaints about poor network performance.
In the past, the NCC has fined telecom operators for not meeting service standards. For example, Airtel was fined ₦2.3 billion in 2020 for disconnecting another telecom company without permission. In 2019, several major telecom operators were fined a combined ₦2.97 billion for violating service rules.
However, the industry is facing financial challenges. The Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) said that telecom companies have seen a big drop in investment due to rising costs and high taxes. ALTON’s chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, warned that if these issues are not addressed, the industry could struggle, and it might hurt service delivery.
Tony Emoekpere, president of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), added that telecom operators are finding it hard to keep up with rising expenses because tariffs have stayed the same for over ten years. He said the government needs to support the sector, either by raising tariffs or making other policy changes to help telecom companies manage their costs and keep providing services.
While there have been reports of possible load shedding in the industry, Emoekpere clarified that no telecom company has officially started such measures. He emphasized the importance of addressing financial pressures to ensure better service for customers.
