Nigerian Telecom operators have requested that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) grant subscribers more time to normalize irregular SIM registration.
Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) told Nigeria Communications Week that his association had since told the commission of the need to allow a window of time during which subscribers can resolve any SIM registration issues.
He also mentioned that the telecom operators agreed with the NCCs reasons for instructing that SIMs be registered Nationwide. However, he said that it was necessary that subscribers have a set period of time during which they could resolve any irregularities in their initial registration.
Adebayo said “We do have few concerns about the process and we have recommended as follows: That where SIM registration records are rejected, as a result of invalid records, we should be given a period of two weeks, to notify the subscriber before we disconnect. Because what we are told now is that when we gather the data and send to the central database, once they discover any missing item, NCC asks you to disconnect them. So, we are saying, give us a declaration on the data considered improperly done within the number of days. Give us that window of time to at least involve the subscriber and normalize the data. This is critical to avoid disconnecting the subscriber who may have come with good intentions to give his/her data. During that period, we will tell the person you cannot make call, but can only receive; so, we can call the subscriber to comply with the process. But, if within the window of time the subscriber fails to comply, then disconnect other services,” he stated.
Engr. Adebayo also expressed concern over the fact that the cost of the SIM registration exercise was solely borne by the telcos. Considering that high level data are being collected from subscribers for onward transfer to the government, he said that it wasn’t fair that the telcos had to bear the financial burden of the exercise alone.