Enforcement on Licencing
During the third quarter of 2019, the NCC intervened on an issue brewing between Yellowdot African Limited and MTN.
MTN issued a notice of disconnection from Value Added Service, (VAS) to Yellowdot Africa Limited after which Yellowdot Africa Limited wrote, to NCC on July 1, 2019, to stop MTN from carrying out the disconnection.
On July 23, 2019, the Commission wrote to advice MTN not to disconnect Yellowdot Africa Limited, as it had already applied for the renewal of its licence.
NCC, therefore, asked Yellowdot Africa Limited, to submit its Tax Clearance Certificate and pay its outstanding Annual Operating Levy, (AOL), amounting to N7,769,550.65, (Seven Million Seven Hundred and Sixty-Nine Thousand, Five Hundred and Fifty Naira, Sixty Five Kobo), so, the Commission can complete its renewal process.
Monitoring Compliance and Enforcement on Spectrum/Interconnect
Still, during the third quarter of 2019, the Commission engaged in monitoring exercise across the Nation, on the utilization of 5.4GHz frequency band, in 11, (eleven) States of the Federation, which reported illegal deployment of services, in the licensed band, by some public and private organisations.
On September 4, 2019, before the monitoring exercise, the Commission published a 14-day Pre-Enforcement notice, in the national dailies, warning the affected organisations, to vacate forthwith and desist, from the illegal deployment of services, in the licensable portion, of the 5.4GHz band, without having obtained the requisite authorisation, from the Commission.
Enforcement on complaint of SIM Card Registration Agents in Oyo State
The Commission carried out an enforcement exercise in Ibadan, Oyo State, between July 9 and 11, 2019, at locations, where SIM Cards were purchased and registered, in contravention of the Direction on SIM Card registration, in a Controlled Environment.
Four suspects were arrested with registered MSISDN lines, belonging to MTN, Airtel and Globacom. They were, subsequently, handed over to the Nigerian Security Civil Defense Corps, (NSCDC), for investigation and prosecution.
Pre-enforcement letters were, subsequently, sent to the respective operators, to show cause, why the appropriate sanctions, should not be imposed on them, for the breach, in accordance with the Commission’s Direction on SIM Card registration, in a controlled environment and the Nigerian Communications, (Enforcement Process, etc.), Regulations, 2019.
Enforcement against fraudulently Registered SIM Cards in Abia and Imo States
The Commission carried out enforcement actions on the availability of fraudulently-registered Subscriber Identification Module, (SIM), as reported, by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), in Umuahia, Abia State and also, information gathered from participants in the Commissions awareness program, in Owerri, Imo State between September 10 and13, 2019.
No arrest was, however, made in both cities, as there was high level of awareness and compliance, regarding the sale of registered SIM cards and the national security implications.
Don’t miss important articles during the week. Subscribe to cfamedia weekly newsletter for updates.
