Modupe Gbadeyanka
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
An approval has been granted to two mobile network operators (MNOs) in the country by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to test run local roaming service.
The approval was given to Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN) Nigeria and the Emerging Markets Telecommunication Service Limited (EMTS), trading as 9mobile in Nigeria under the National Roaming Service.
This system enables a mobile subscriber to automatically make and receive voice calls, send and receive data or access other services when travelling outside a particular network geographical area by utilising the network coverage of other networks with roaming arrangements to access service.
A statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Public Affairs at the NCC, Mr Ikechukwu Adinde, disclosed that the approval was for a period of three months, commencing from August 1, 2020, to October 31, 2020.
With this approval EMTS and MTN are expected to configure their networks to begin test and simulation for customer experience. The trial approval covers a few local governments, designated as the National Roaming geographic area, in Ondo State.
The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, explained in the statement that the primary objective of the National Roaming Service trial is to encourage network resource sharing among operators.
He said this will lead to operational expenditure (OPEX) optimisation and capital expenditure (CAPEX) efficiencies leading to freeing up of resources to expand mobile network coverage to unserved and underserved communities across the country, which will lead to improved Quality of Service (QoS) delivery to subscribers.
“The successful implementation of the trial will enable EMTS subscribers to access MTN network service within the National Roaming trial geographical area without the need for an MTN Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card,” Mr Danbatta said.
