Commission Issues Direction on Controlled Environment for SIM Card Registration

The Commission has been inundated with complaints from various stakeholders on the continued sale of pre-registered SIM Cards which are activated by Mobile Networks Operators and are of grave security implications to Nigeria.

As part of the strategy to address this lingering issue of the sale of pre-registered SIM Cards, the Commission on November 30, 2016 issued a Direction to Mobile Network Operators. This direction specified amongst others:

Compliance monitoring of the Commission's Direction to Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to dedicate a uniform Short Code (2442) for opt-in to the Do-Not-Disturb (DND)

The Commission had issued a Direction to Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to dedicate the short code 2442 on their networks for use by subscribers to opt-in to the "Do Not Disturb" database restricting unsolicited messages (Voice and SMS) on their MSISDN including the use of web based platforms as opt-out measures.

Commission Directs Visafone Communications Limited To Switch Off CDMA Signal In The 800MHz Band

Following a spectrum monitoring exercise conducted by the Commission, it was discovered that Visafone Communications Limited was operating in the 800 MHz band thereby causing interference to Smile Communications Limited.

Consequently the Commission directed Visafone Communications Limited to switch off all CDMA signal in the 800 MHz band entering into Ikeja, Lagos area. This directive was monitored and compliance confirmed accordingly.

Commission Sanctions Visafone Communications Limited

The Commission pursuant to its regulatory oversight sanctioned Visafone Communications Limited with a fine of N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira) in March 2016 for non-compliance with the Commission’s Directive on the End of Call N

Compliance Monitoring Of The Commission’s Direction Against Automatic Migration Of Subscribers’ Data Services To Pay As You Go (PayG) Without Authorization

The Commission had been inundated with complaints from telecom consumers regarding the current practices by Mobile Network Oper

Commission Sanctions Mobile Network Operators For Sales Of Pre-Registered SIM Cards

The Commission has sanctioned four (4) mobile network operators, namely MTN, Airtel, Globacom and EMTS (Etisalat) a total sum of N40,000,000.00 (Forty Million Naira) for sales of pre-registered SIM Cards.