By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to provide compensation to subscribers whose network quality of service experience is below specified targets within specific locations.

In a Sunday statement, the commission noted that its position is that customers should not be made to bear the full burden of service disruptions where operators fail to meet prescribed standards of service delivery.

Under this directive, NCC said erring operators would compensate affected users directly for breaches of Quality of Service (QoS) Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) will be required to pay these compensations for instances of poor quality of service recorded within specified time frames.

“The compensation will be provided in the form of airtime credits, calculated based on subscribers’ average spending patterns and their presence within Local Government Areas where service failures occur”, according to the statement.

The directive is rooted in the agency’s broader regulatory philosophy that places the consumer at the centre of Nigeria’s telecommunications ecosystem.

“Telecommunications services today underpin economic activity, social interaction, and access to digital opportunities. When service quality is poor, the consequences affect productivity, commercial activities, and even public confidence in our communications system.

“While regulatory fines have traditionally served as a deterrent against poor service delivery, the Commission is adopting a more consumer-focused approach that strengthens accountability within the industry”.

The commission explained that it has designed this measure to complement existing and ongoing efforts to strengthen service quality monitoring and enforce performance standards.

Further to this directive by the commission to MNOs on compensation to consumers, the regulator has mandated Tower Companies that own the critical infrastructure, such as masts, for Quality of Service delivery, to invest in infrastructure with measurable outcomes using sums that it has fined these companies, in addition to other financial fines the Commission will deem appropriate.

“The commission will continue to reinforce the obligation of operators to invest consistently in network resilience, capacity expansion, and infrastructure upgrades to meet the growing demand for telecommunications services.

“At the same time, it will deploy regulatory tools that promote fairness, transparency, and accountability across the sector, ensuring that every subscriber receives the quality of service they deserve while sustaining a telecommunications industry capable of powering Nigeria’s digital future”, the statement added.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has proposed blocking mobile numbers linked to fraudulent activities across Nigeria, as part of efforts to strengthen digital security and restore public trust in the nation’s telecommunications ecosystem.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Mr Aminu Maida, disclosed this on Thursday during a stakeholders’ consultative forum on the Telecoms Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS) platform in Abuja.

Represented by the Executive Commissioner of Stakeholder Management, Mrs Rimini Makama, Mr Maida said the move is in response to the growing misuse of mobile numbers, particularly those that are churned, recycled, swapped, or improperly registered, which have increasingly become tools for financial fraud and identity theft.

He explained that the commission is introducing a regulatory-backed, cross-sectoral platform known as TIRMS to address these vulnerabilities.

The platform, he said, will enable service providers across telecommunications, financial services, and other critical sectors to verify mobile numbers flagged for suspicious or criminal activities before granting access to services.

As part of the initiative, the EVC said the commission is proposing amendments to existing Quality of Service (QoS) and subscriber registration regulations to institutionalise stricter controls around mobile number management.

“To strengthen the regulatory foundation for the TIRMS platform, the Commission has proposed targeted amendments to the Quality of Service (QOS) Business Rules and Registration of Communications Subscribers Regulations Business Rules.

“These amendments will, among other things, require operators to notify affected subscribers at least 14 days before any line is churned, mandate the submission of all churn number details to the TIRMS platform within seven days of completion of the churn process, and establish a new framework for the blocking of fraudulently registered or fraudulently utilized MSISDN’s. These changes are designed to promote transparency, protect subscribers, and ensure regulatory clarity in support of the platform’s objective.”

“The eventual implementation of the TIRMS Platform will be geared towards collaboration with key stakeholders, relevant regulators and law enforcement outfits. This approach will ensure a one-government approach and create the much-needed bridge across sectoral barriers and ecosystems,” he added.

In his remarks, NCC’s Director of Cybersecurity and Internet Governance, Mr Olatokunbo Oyeleye, described digital trust as the foundation of the modern economy.

“As rightly noted, digital trust is the operating licence of the modern economy. Without it, nothing scales and with it everything accelerates. For our sector, this trust must be embedded across the entire value chain.”

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

Airtel Africa Plc has expressed readiness to expand the Starlink Mobile plan across its 14 markets, in line with country-specific regulatory approvals.

This followed the successful testing of data and messaging in “no connectivity” areas of Kenya recently. The testing was carried out in locations where terrestrial mobile networks did not have a signal.

In these areas, Starlink Mobile was seamlessly activated, allowing 4G compatible smartphones access to Starlink’s constellation of 650 launched satellites to keep them connected.

During this testing phase, the connectivity was able to support light-data applications such as WhatsApp calling and messaging, maps, Facebook Messenger, and successful financial transactions via the Airtel app. Users remained connected to these apps and had access to key services even in the most remote locations.

Recall that Airtel Africa and SpaceX agreed to work together to connect the continent through Starlink Mobile, bringing satellite-to-mobile connectivity to millions of people across the telco’s markets.

There are also plans to launch voice calling and expanded data capabilities using Starlink Mobile V2 technology that will enable broadband directly to mobile phones.

“We are thrilled to move from announcement to actionable steps with our partners at SpaceX. This testing phase in Kenya is a testament to our commitment to expanding global access.

“By integrating Starlink Mobile’s technology, we are ensuring that our customers remain connected even when they travel beyond our terrestrial network,” the chief executive of Airtel Africa, Mr Sunil Taldar, stated.