NCC Visits Telcos, Insists on Improved Telecoms Services for Subscribers

Emma Okonji

Following the earlier directive issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), mandating telecoms operators (Telcos) to provide compensation to telecoms subscribers for poor service quality experienced within specific locations, the commission has paid a visit to major telecoms operators in Lagos, demanding for improved service quality across networks.

During the visit, NCC stressed that telcos would be accountable for every drop in service quality across all the networks.

NCC however appealed to telecoms subscribers to exercise patience with the sector, assuring subscribers that all efforts are being made to improve service quality delivery in the country.

The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, who was part of the NCC delegation, led by its Board Chairman, Idris Olorunnimbe, gave the assurance, while briefing journalists during the visit.

The delegation visited MTN office, Airtel Data Centre, Glo Switching Station, and Open Access Data Centre (WIOCC Group), all located in Lagos, accompanied by some members of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), the umbrella body for all licensed telecoms operators in Nigeria.

Although Maida appreciated the efforts of the operators thus far, he however demanded for more strategies in improving telephone service quality in Nigeria.

“Telecoms operators will be held more accountable in this dispensation. We need to build more trust in the system. Customers must trust the system. To enhance service quality across networks, there should be more sector investments in order to extend telecoms services to underserved and unserved communities in the country,” Maida said.

At MTN office and Airtel Data Centre, Maida commended series of investments by operators but demanded for more investments.

“We understand that Nigerians are yearning for better services, and we know that improved service requires strong infrastructure. While we are not yet where we want to be, what I’ve seen in this visit reassures me that operators are continuing to invest significantly.

“I appeal to Nigerians to be a little more patient as these investments mature, so we can effectively address infrastructure deficits and improve service delivery,” Maida further said.    

Olorunnimbe who spoke about the burning issues in the telecoms sector, decried the continuous poor service quality delivery and data depletion experienced by telecoms operators, and called for increased awareness campaign strategy by the telecoms operators   

“Every morning, l wake up to receive two major complaints: Poor telephone services and fast data depletion. As much as I know that data doesn’t just disappear from someone’s phone because there are triggers, it is the duty of telcos to look into these complaints, with a view to finding a lasting solution that will address them. Telcos also need to deepen the education and awareness campaign on what trigger data loss on the phone and what can be done to guard against such occurrence,” Olorunnimbe said. 

Commending telcos for the current investment in the telecoms sector, Olorunnimbe said the infrastructure observed during the visit was comparable to what one would find anywhere in the world, stressing that Nigeria is not behind. According to him, with the planned expansions in the telecoms sector, “we will remain competitive globally.”

ALTON Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, who appreciated the leadership of NCC, said the level of infrastructure at the Open Access Data Centre, as well as those infrastructure deplored by telecoms operators, showed that Nigeria could compete at the global level.

“The visit is an opportunity to showcase the progress we’ve made as an industry. What you’ve seen here reflects a world-class, industry-leading infrastructure—comparable to anywhere in the world,” Adebayo said.