Towards tackling the rising cost of doing business in the telecom industry in Nigeria, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Aminu Maida, has reassured telecommunications operators of the determination of the Commission to address the issues and ensure stability in the sector.
He spoke at the 93rd Telecom Consumer Parliament in Abuja on Thursday.
Noting the economic challenges facing operators in the country, he highlighted measures to that will ensure sustainability in the sector.
Maida, in his keynote address at the event said, “We cannot also ignore the effect of current macroeconomic challenges and the rising cost of business in the country which is impacting the ability of operators to make the necessary investments in the sector.
“The commission is mindful of this and is actively working with other arms of government and stakeholders to address these issues and ensure the industry’s sustainability.”
Highlighting the progress of the Nigerian telecom sector in the past two decades, the Executive Vice Chairman, said that such measures have resulted in immense digital adoption.
According to him, such measures included the transition from basic voice services to 5G-enabled innovations, such as smart cities and the Internet of Things.
He also revealed that data usage and billing transparency had become major concerns to consumer.
This, he said, made the NCC to audit the billing systems of Mobile Network Operators and Internet Service Providers.
Despite the audits carried out showing no significant issues, he said the perception of rapid data depletion persisted.
Maida attributed the problem to two main factors, including advanced high-resolution devices consuming more data, and the complexity of tariff structures.
With the growing data consumption resulting from digital advancements, he said that consumer concerns over data depletion and billing transparency must be addressed.
He said “Globally, DataReportal notes there are now over five billion internet users, with Nigeria alone accounting for 132 million connections. Nigerians spend an average of 4 hours and 20 minutes on social media daily, far above the global average, underscoring how deeply embedded digital interaction is in our lives.
“In 2024, Nigeria’s daily data usage averaged 336 gigabytes per second, marking a 39 per cent increase from the previous year—a clear indication of the data-driven lifestyle many Nigerians lead.
"Despite this, many consumers feel their data depletes faster than expected, echoing a sentiment I hear often.” he stated
To resolve the matter, NCC has launched a Joint Industry Campaign on Consumer Awareness tow educating users on smarter data management.
The campaign is being disseminated through radio, television, newspapers, and SMS, providing practical tips for optimising data usage.
Also introduced is a Guidance on Tariff Simplification, which requires operators to present clear and accessible information on data plans and billing.
Among other factors frustrating operators’ efforts to deliver quality services, the Executive Vice Chairman, said included the impact of vandalism and theft of telecom infrastructure.
Towards empowering consumers further, he said the NCC’s plans included the development of detailed network coverage maps.
The maps, he said, are expected to be publicly available soon.
He said they will indicate operators’ network strength, service quality, and coverage gaps, which will help consumers to make informed decisions.
The NCC, he said, is finalising its Major Incident Reporting Guidelines, which will require operators to notify consumers of incidents affecting their networks.
Maida commended the Federal Government’s designation of telecom infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure, through a presidential order signed in July 2024.
He described the order as a critical step in addressing the menace of vandalism, tampering, and unauthorised access to telecom assets.