Telecommunication masts "poses no health risk" - NCC says

The believe that exposing oneself to electromagnetic field generated from telecommunication building and structures poses danger to human health has been quashed by the regulatory body of the Nigerian industry.

According to the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, the electromagnetic field produced at telecoms base stations cannot pose any health risks to humans.

Danbatta made the assertion on may 9, at a sitting of the Ad Hoc Committee in Abuja, assigned by the House of Representatives to investigate the health implications of mounting telecoms masts close to building.

He said several researches conducted so far in the aspect are yet to reveal adverse health concern attached the claim.

He responded to a question when asked about the health implications if one is exposed to electromagnetic field; “With regards to other professional bodies like Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) we don’t have any quarrel with their positions.

“The only question is when we say exposure to electromagnetic field is hazardous to health what level are we talking about? We have to define the level of exposure that is hazardous to human beings. Of course if you generate a massive electromagnetic field of unprecedented proportion and put a person inside, there will be medical consequences.

“But what we are saying is that: provided the limit specified is observed and NCC is there to ensure compliance with that limit, there is no health hazard. There is a limit of safety below which electromagnetic fields do not cause any harm to health.”

He also said that Nigeria needs about eighty thousand telecommunication base stations to usher us into smart applications and Internet of Things (IoT ) era.

The regulatory senior official also said Nigeria as a whole still possess less than 50,000 telecoms base stations which is inadequate for the actualization her dream of meeting up with countries already working with 4G and 5G.

Danbatta said: “3G, 4G going to 5G networks are going to usher this country into smart applications, the Internet of Things or the smart world and cities we are talking about”

“And of course because of the additional burden on infrastructure, the present capacity of telecom infrastructure is grossly inadequate to cater for these additional platforms or services we talk about. Therefore we will need from 70,000 to 80,000 base transceiver masts to be able to provide the effective capacity that’s needed to deploy 4G going to 5G."

He stated that United Kingdom has almost 60,000 masts and is just one third of Nigerian population.

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Federal Government set to declare telecom infrastructure national assets – Shittu

Barr. Adebayo Shittu

Barrister Adebayo Shittu, who is the current Minister of Communications, has revealed that the telecom sector has contributed $60 billion to the economy over the last 17 years of its existence.

Shittu made this revelation on Tuesday, March, 14, 2017, at the Nigeria Communications Commission, NCC, reception and presentation of Board of Commissioners to the telecom industry in Abuja.

The Minister also revealed that the Federal Government, FG, will in two weeks declare all telecommunication infrastructure across Nigeria Critical National Assets.

Shittu said that, no serious nation that ranks its need right would play with a serious sector like telecom, noting its huge influence on the growth of the economy.

He said: ‘‘You know that the government is an enabler for all the sectors of the economy. Telecom sector is a private sector led industry, and what government does is to protect the enabling environment. We have gotten from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics the fact that there has been increasing investment in the sector.

”A lot of foreign investments are being brought in and a lot of Nigerians are getting jobs and also making more money both for Nigerians as individuals and for the government. There are indices to calculate this. I am relying on the statistics from the Nigerian Bureau of statistics that telecom sector has contributed $60 billion in the last 17 years

‘‘No nation that can toil with an industry that has contributed $60 billion to the economy in 17 years. As an industry that is focused, the Commission should pursue use of latest technology at a very affordable cost and improve quality of services. I challenge the new board to work with the management team to ensure operators enhance the quality of their service.”

The Minister said, he has assurance in the capacity of the new board to deliver on its mandate and charged the members to work together with the management team of the Commission in setting up modern technology at a very cheap rate to improve quality of service delivery within the sector as an business that is consumer focused.

‘‘I am confident that the choices made on the new board were made beyond human rapprochement. On the part of government, we expect the board to seek new ways to improve the quality of service delivery in the industry.

‘‘If you look at their resume you will agree with me that we wouldn’t have had anything better in terms of quality. They are all distinguished in various professional fields, they have also proven to be men of integrity and moral standing and so one is convinced that they will not compromise the interest of consumers and regulatory authority.

‘‘By the same token, they have given the commitment that they will ensure a level playing field for all operators. That means a lot because just as the consumers has rights operators also have their own rights as guaranteed by the law.

‘‘They must be given an environment that will encourage productivity, satisfaction for customers and that will also bring in more money for Nigeria,’’ The minister stated.

Futhermore, Shittu said the Government would support any action that will improve the performance and image of the telecom sector, which he said has presented marvellous growth in internet penetration, broadband and tele-density growth over the years.

He promised that government is prepared to eliminate all stumbling blocks in the industry in order to ensure stress free distribution of telecom infrastructure by the service providers.

‘‘I believe it will happen within the next two week. We have a memo to the Federal Executive Council in that regard whose approval has been delayed due to certain circumstances beyond our control.

‘‘That bottleneck has now being removed and the memo will soon be presented to the Federal Executive Council. I want to believe in another two weeks or three weeks we will have approval of the Federal Executive Council and once it is approved we will go on to implementation stage,” he promised.

The Minister also applauded the new management of NCC for taking the initiatives and being proactive in its regulative job, which made the commission to gain N80 billion extra for the country from a single fine of an operator.

He said: ‘‘You will recall that ordinarily, NCC makes money for Nigeria through their licensing processes and through selling of spectrum but the problem that arose from MTN is one issue, which has always been in the sector.

‘‘But it was when the new management came on board that they discovered it and announced to the whole world that that had happened not only that they followed it up with punitive measures. Perhaps, if it was not the current management perhaps it would have been glossed over and public would not have known.

‘‘That singular effort Nigeria has so far gained 80billion extra on top of what they have been gaining for Nigeria by way of selling of spectrums and licensing operators is commendable.’’

Sen. Otumba Durojaiye, who is the Chairman of the board, in his remarks, stated that the board will ensure level playing ground for all operators (be it big or small) and would not encourage any anticompetitive inclination to succeed in the industry, maintaining that the board will ensure that healthy competition prevails in the sector.

He commended and appreciated telecom investors for their trust in the economy and promised that the regulatory board (NCC), under the new board would heartily pursue initiatives that would help consumers and increase quality of service by the operators.

The Chairman said: ‘‘We will do our best to attain high level of service in the industry. Improvement of services is our target. We must ensure fair level field for all operators and no one should be kept in doubt that Nigeria needs healthy competition. We are already working on improving the situation of poor quality of service. That is why we will welcome a healthy competition.

‘‘We frown at monopolistic tendencies. We will not fail to implore service providers to up their game. Service has worsened over the past two months. We solicit their cooperation in activating the DND code to enable consumers check the menace of unsolicited sms, drop calls and poor quality of service.’’

Also, in his address, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications, Senator Bath Nnaji said 

‘‘NCC is blessed to have a new board with tested and eminent personalities with proven records of great achievements to assist in taking the industry to the next level.”

With the appointment of the board, he stressed that the NCC is better positioned to seek new ways to take the sector to a global level in best practices and admonished the board to use new cutting edge so that Nigerians can get value for their money.

He also condemned the malicious destruction of telecom facilities by criminals and promised to work with the Commission in order to find a lasting solution to the menace.

He also charged the board to come up with strategies that would address never-ending cases of multiple taxation, poor quality of service, low broadband penetration, drop calls, unsolicited SMS and Right of Way issues.

The Association of Licensed Telecom Organizations of Nigeria (ALTON) Chairman, Engr. Ghenga Adebayo, represented by Ibrahim Dikko, in his goodwill remark, said the issue of multiple taxation remain top target on the priority list of the association.

While congratulating the new board, Adebayo said ALTON desires to work in partnership with the NCC to attain sustainable growth and development of the telecom sector in Nigeria.

Highlight of the occasion was official presentation of the new board members by the Minister, which comprises of:

Sen. Otunba Durojaiye - Chairman

Prof. Umar Dambatta - Executive Vice Chairman

Engr. Ubale Maska - Executive Commissioner, Technical Services

Mr. Sunday Dare - Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders’ Management

Sen. Ifeanyi Araraume – Commissioner

Mr. Clement Baiye – Commissioner

The board is meant to supervise the affairs of NCC for the next five years

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Telecommunication sector seek direct foreign exchange allocation

The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, has requested for direct Foreign Exchange (FX) allocation for the telecommunications sector.

Engr. Gbenga Adebayo

Gbenga Adebayo who is the ALTON Chairman, in Lagos, on Saturday, March 11, 2017, said that the telecom sector needs to be supported with such dirext FX allocation from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The ALTON chairman said that telecom operators faces various challenges while  purchasing FX from Interbank Market to settle the Equipment Suppliers and Foreign Vendors.

”In November 2014, the CBN excluded telecommunications equipment from the Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS), where the exchange rate was N155 per dollar.

”ALTON members were mandated to purchase FX from Inter-bank at the rate of N199 per dollar.

”The CBN subsequently introduced a floating FX regime at the inter-bank market and cleared three months backlogs at N280 per dollar, and this technically moved the exchange rate from N199 to N280 levels.

”CBN then issued another circular mandating banks, effective Aug. 22, 2016, to sell 60 per cent of all FX availability, irrespective of source of inflows, to the manufacturing sector and the balance (40 per cent ) to other sectors.

”This directive tactically closed FX inflows even from ALTON’s members, thereby exacerbating the impact of the liquid FX market on our members operations and the industry at large,” Adebayo said.

Adebayo recall that on October 14, 2016, the CBN further asked banks to submit all outstanding FX requests for the agriculture, manufacturing and airlines sectors, to allow it sell two months in advance.

He also noted that the equipment imported by the telecom industries, either via Letters of Credit or Certificate of Capital Importation (based on deferred payment terms), are excluded from the intervention.

He said: ”Telecommunications service providers are similar to manufacturing firms and deserve to be treated in the same manner.

”The core network equipment and other auxiliary equipment procured for providing voice and data services are equivalent to plant and machinery acquired by the manufacturing firms."

The ALTON chairman said that the telecommunications industries was termed 'infrastructure of infrastructures' and the 'Social Overhead Capital', which gear productivity in other sectors of the economy.

”In the light of the foregoing, ALTON respectfully requests the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to fast-track the ongoing engagement with the CBN.

”NCC should include telecommunications equipment, both visible and invisible ones, among the list of items to be allocated from the 60 per cent FX availability by the banks, regardless of source of inflows.

”This is to ensure the continued provision of world class telecommunications services to the consumers,” he said.

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Recession: 3 Nigerian banks Set to Take Over Etisalat over N541.8 billion Debt

Recession seems to be biting everything at its sight. Etisalat Nigeria appears to be the latest victim.

Three Nigerian banks are allegedly set to take over the management of one of the top-4 telecommunications company in the country, Etisalat NG, due to a debt of N541.8 billion incurred by the company.

According to reports, Etisalat had secured a loan facility estimated to be $1.72 billion (about N541.8 billion) in 2015 from an association of some foreign and Nigerian banks that includes Access Bank, 

Guaranty Trust Bank and Zenith Bank.

Etisalat Nigeria which started its operation in 2009, had obtained the loan to fund a major network rehabilitation and to expand its operational base within Nigeria.

Etisalat is using the current recession as an alibi for its failure to pay the loan. The banks affected by the predicament have dragged the telecommunication company before the two regulators involved, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, for banking sector and the Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC, for Telecommunication sector.

Etisalat has been admonished to request for a bankruptcy status in order to surrender the company to the banks.

NCC was said to have approved the takeover of the company which is to take place today.

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Internet users in Nigeria dropped to 91.2 million in January 2017 - NCC

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has disclosed that the number of internet users on Nigeria’s telecommunications networks dropped to 91, 274,446 in January 2017.

This was a disclosure made in its Monthly Internet Subscribers Data for January 2017. Internet surfers dropped to 91,274,446 in January from 91,880.032 users recorded for the month of December 2016, showing a drop of 605,586.

According to the report, GSM service providers lost 605,586 internet customers. For Etisalat, the data recorded that 13,564.284 customers surfed the internet in January revealing a decline of 188.656 users as against the 13,752.940 users that was recorded in December 2016.

MTN Nigeria which had 31,015.45 subscribers browsing the internet on its system in January, also recorded a decline of 737, 964 internet subscribers in January after reporting 31,753.369 in December 2016.

However, Both Airtel Nigeria and Globacom recorded upturn of internet users on their networks. Airtel had 19,618.485 internet users in January, an increase of 254,94 customers over the 19,363.545 users recorded in December while Globacom had 27,076,272 internet users in January, also adding 66,094 users to the 27,010.178 users recorded in December 2016.

Find Summary in the table below:

GSM Provider	December, 2016	January, 2017	Difference
Airtel NG	19,363.545	19,618.485	254,94 (Increase)
Etisalat NG	13,752.940	13,564.284	188.656 (Decrease)
GLO	27,010.178	27,076,272	66,094 (Increase)
MTN NG	31,753.369	31,015.45	737, 964 (Decrease)

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Don’t review interconnection rates upward, telecom subscribers appeal to NCC

The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) has appealed to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to please abolish its plan on upward review of the interconnection rates for voice services.

The NATCOM’s President, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, on Saturday, spoke with the press in Lagos that with the current economic situation of the country, the review of the interconnection rates was not necessary.

The current rate took effect from April 1, 2013, that has the established/bigger operators terminating calls on new entrants/smaller operators’ networks at N6.40, while N4.90 for the smaller operators do same on major operators’ networks.

Ogunbajo said, "I don’t think this is the right time to do any upward review. Government and its agencies should be sensitive to the plight of the people.

“’Government should understand that we are in recession and it is affecting every pocket; so, it is not a right time of increasing telecommunications tariffs."

He said that rather than upward review, the regulatory body should be thinking of a downward review. He also said that, voice tariff, data tariff and other services offered by the sector should be review downwards.

“NCC is not in the habit of reviewing downward; however, downward review will be a welcome development in view of the present economic situation,” Ogunbajo stated.

He said that the telecommunications sector should look at dropping the price cap from N50 per minute to N20 per minute, since the cap had been in existence since 2001.

Recall on Friday, February 17, Tellforceblog reported that the NCC is determined to review the interconnection rates - Prof. Umar Danbatta who is the Executive Vice-Chairman of NCC, said on Wednesday in Abuja that NCC was set to review the interconnection rate for voice services which has been fixed since April 1, 2013 and this is coming due to the current market realities.

Danbatta said, “The sector has witnessed changes in available technologies (2G, 2.5G, 3G and 4G) and other network elements, including global financial markets, which have an impact over inputs such as cost of capital.

“The scale of changes will inevitably affect the unit cost of providing services, including interconnection, and may lead to differences between regulated interconnection rates and underlying costs.

“This, in turn, may result in differences between on-net and off- net retail tariffs.

“It is very important we ensure that interconnection services are not only fairly-priced and non-discriminative, but should reflect the cost of providing such services in the market.

“It is in this regard that the commission has decided to review the rates set in its 2013 determination, in the light of current market realities."

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NCC to review Interconnection Rates

Prof. Umar Danbatta, who is currently the Executive Vice Chairman of Nigeria Communication Commission NCC, said the commission will soon review the interconnection charges for voice services which has been on ground since 2013.

Danbatta who was represented by the Director of Policy Competition and Economic Analysis, Mrs. Josephine Amuwa, said this on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 in Abuja at a “Stakeholder’s Forum on Cost Based Study’’ for the purpose of mobile voice termination rate. According to him, the reason is based on the current market dispensation.

He said that the commission had carried out a thorough cost study and have determined to review the current interconnection rates for voice services which had been on the rail since April 1, 2013.

According to him, since the last determination, the country’s communication market has seen incredible growth in both subscriber numbers and traffic volumes.

“The sector has witnessed changes in available technologies and other network elements, including global financial markets which have an impact over inputs such as cost of capital.

“The scale of changes will inevitably affect the unit cost of providing services, including interconnection and may lead to differences between regulated interconnection rates and underlying costs.

“This in turn may result in differences between on-net and off net retail tariffs.

“It is very important we ensure that interconnection services are not only fairly priced and non-discriminative, but should reflect the cost providing such services in the market.

He also, “It is in this regard that the commission has decided to review the rates set in its 2013 determination in the light of current market realities.”

According to him, the study delivers the chance to meticulously examine the emergence of grey market activities in the telecoms industry in Nigeria.

“Such as call refilling, call masking, and sim-box fraud as a result of the introduction of an interim International Termination Rate for Inbound International traffic.’’

To this end, the commission carried out a thorough selection process and appointed Messrs’ Price ewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PWC) to among other things “carry out an impact assessment on the subsisting interconnect regime.

“Identify shortfalls on the subsisting interconnection rate regime and provide workable solutions.

“Determine if there is need to have different termination rate for National/Domestic and international traffic.

“Determine the Mobile Termination Rate for voice services using appropriate cost modeling techniques for New Entrant(s)/Small Operators and Existing /Big Operators.

“Determine the appropriate basis for Glide Path (if necessary); Develop a suitable definition of a New Entrant (s) /Small Operator to enjoy the benefits of asymmetric rates.’’

Danbatta said that with respects to the commission’s principle of guaranteeing participatory regulation, the stakeholders’ forum was only to formally introduce the project consultant to the industry stakeholders, but also to start the project.

“You will agree with me that the supply of industry statistical data is most critical to the success of determining appropriate interconnection termination rates for the telecommunication industry.

“Therefore, your prompt response in providing accurate date will be invaluable.

“The commission has an obligation to create a level playing field for all operators, and in line with international standard practice, NCC shall ensure that interconnect rates reflect the cost of 

termination on the networks."

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OPINION: OUTSOURCING, A Menace to Nigerian Indigenous companies, Society and Economy (Part 1)

By Andre, February 15, 2017

Has Nigerians been indirectly sold out to modern slavery by its government?

Why would Nigerian government allow foreign companies or so call expatriates to kill indigenous companies or individuals to be killed by foreign companies in the name of ties with some countries?

What is outsourcing?

It is the practice of having some specific job roles done outside a company instead of allowing internal department(s) or employee(s) to handle them; tasks can be outsourced to either a company or an individual. It could mean employing offshore companies taking over some responsibilities within the country, or outsourcing a job role to companies within the same country, i.e. outsourcing to foreign or indigenous companies.

Outsourcing has become a major development in human resources over the past years. It is said to be cost- effective if properly managed. It is also a very good way of checking worker’s performance within a company or government organisation.

Telecommunications, banking sector, manufacturing sectors, government organisations, NGOs and so on are seriously taking advantage of this system because of its numerous benefits.

Yes, Blah! Blah!! Blah!!! We can continue to talk about the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing but is Nigeria as a country ripe for outsourcing some of its job functions or even companies to foreigners?

For me No! No!! No!!! Why? How many companies do we have in the country that we will be calling upon other countries to assist us in managing them? What are we manufacturing for now in the country that is difficult for its indigenes to handle or manage? When you say we don’t have technical know-how, why not call on expatriates to come and transfer the knowledge to us? Why are we the one to transfer the little knowledge we have to those that have more than us? Example is that of Ericson, Huawei and MTN versus Nigeria NOC Engineers case.

What is Nigerian government doing about the case? Are they going to use a whole decade to investigate as usual and will still come out with no result?

Outsourcing is supposed to Increase efficiency when it comes to work rate and output but the truth is, it is not working in Nigeria. Another very good case is that of MTN Nigeria contracting its customer care company to an Indian company.

Many of its subscribers could recollect that MTN customer care service was one of the best some years ago or even, let’s talk about months ago. Despite its huge subscriber base, it was able to manage some good percentage when it comes to resolving issues online.

From the customer’s END.

Now, as a subscriber, you can hardly call 180 and get your issue resolved? Just calling for data activation, most of the customer care agents will simple tell you, the application I am supposed to use is not available. They no longer have applications to resolve customers’ issue, why?

Customer care agents are now crazily running after number of calls as a result of the Average handling time (AHT) targets given to them. How can you manage a customer with an AHT of 2minutes? Does it make sense? Yes, give your workers target but make it a reasonable one. This reminds of Airtel Nigeria customer care service too, same bad testimony as a subscriber.

It is an understatement to say Agents’ poor knowledge of the companies’ products and services is also a contributing to this menace. It’s obvious that they were not properly trained and managed on products and services. Remember, we also have so many lazy agents who also fails to develop themselves, an issue on its own. They are just like Kindergarten graduates handling US pentagon mainframe systems. They don’t know what they are doing on systems.

A good example is calling an agent to help me de-activate an auto renewal service on my daily blackberry subscription (when the service was still available on MTNN network around December 2016). He did not even allow me to finish my query before tell me that he has done it. Then I immediately asked him that did you actually know that I was going to call in for that issue or is your system that fast. His rude response was “thank you for choosing MTN” and went ahead to hanged up the call on me. Yet my issue was not resolved, the auto renewal service still took place the next day.

IS IT HIS FAULT NO? No proper monitoring. No proper training. Agents are rushing to meet up. 

Agents are tired after crazy lengthy working crazing hours.

Stay tuned for PART 2. 

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