Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called for the support and cooperation of its Licensees in order to further deliver on its mandate.
NCC Director, Licensing and Authorization Department, Mr Mohammed Babajika, said this in his opening remarks at the two-day Talk-To-The- Regulator (TTTR) Forum, ongoing in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The TTTR is an annual stakeholders’ consultative forum initiated by NCC to create better understanding between the regulatory agency and its Licensees.
Babajika said the Forum, the maiden edition ongoing in Yenagoa, was conceptualized to achieve six objectives namely:
“To educate Licensees on their various license obligations;
“To provide a platform where licensees can openly discuss challenges experienced in the course of operations and, together with the Commission, proffer solutions;
“To provide a platform where top Management of the Commission can receive feedback directly from the industry to aid in decision-making;
“To educate Licensees on topical regulatory issues and obtain feedback on the impact of the Commission’s regulatory policies;
“To guide in the identification and development of new categories of licences (for services not covered by existing licence categories); and
“To assess the impact of emerging trends in the Nigerian telecom space.”
The NCC director noted that the Commission recognizes that technological advancements in the industry are redefining service-delivery.
He identified the technological advancements to include Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, Network as a Service (NaaS) and Internet of Things (IoT), among others.
He added that the regulatory agency is therefore currently reviewing its license categories, in line with global trends.
“The Commission has also finalized the framework for Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) and is currently in the process of licensing MVNOs.
“The licensing of MVNO will improve the telecommunication output of the country, enable the expansion and availability of quality mobile coverage and close the gap to the unserved and underserved population in Nigeria.
“While the Commission is fully committed in discharging its mandate, it can only achieve this with the cooperation and support of Licensees.
“The Commission therefore recognizes the importance of various service providers and seeks to constantly engage with these service providers and thereby protect the health and growth of the telecoms industry,” he added.
Babajika urged the Licensees to take an advantage of the TTTR Forum to seek clarifications with respect to issues such as license obligations, renewal processes and procedures and emerging trends in the industry.
He assured the Licensees that “the Commission will take their recommendations on-board (as has been done in the past) and ensure that ideas gleaned from the Forum are implemented to impact the industry positively.”
Welcoming the Licensees to the event, he urged them to be frank and constructive in their deliberations at the TTTR Forum.
“Telecoms industry sustainability can only be guaranteed when all stakeholders fully and actively participate in the industry,” he added.
