The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is presently carrying out amendments of telecom operators’ Annual Operating Levy Regulations (AOL) and the Frequency Spectrum fee and price which may increase data and calls cost in the country.
The NCC explained that this move is to bring the regulations in line with current realities and sustain the contributions of the communications sector to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
If the amendments are concluded, data and call tariffs may increase in the country, Africa Today News, New York can confirm.
The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, made this disclosuree at a public inquiry on AOL and Spectrum Frequency in Abuja on Thursday where he explained that the amendments would ensure a fair and competitive telecoms market.
‘The first instrument on AOL ensures that all licensees are properly and equitably assessed for the operating levy as well as meeting both statutory and regulatory expectations.
‘Its review is also expected to help in strengthening and ensuring a fair and competitive telecoms market in Nigeria,’ Danbatta said.
The NCC boss also explained that the second instrument on frequency spectrum fee and pricing enables the Commission to meet its sole and exclusive mandate as enshrined in Section 21 of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA), 2003 by assigning the scarce national resource in an equitable manner.
Danbatta further said the public inquiry not only reflects the commission’s strategic mission and vision to promote regulatory excellence through effective regulatory processes but also signposts its consultative approach to all its regulatory initiatives.
He said the public inquiry was a precursor to NCC’s current drive for efficiency in spectrum management and the unveiling of next-generation services through varied enablers, adding that it was in this regard that the Commission issued a Spectrum Trading Guidelines (STG) in 2018, to make frequency Spectrum readily available to licensees through an effective process.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK