NCC spoils for war with NESREA over encroachment in telecom regulation

By Prince Osuagwu

NESRA should keep off now or.......Nwokonneya, Ojobo and Muoka

Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), today in Abuja, moved in a RAMBO form, to tear away the seals which one of the government agencies, National Environmental Standards Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), placed on one of the Abuja facilities of MTN Nigeria.
NCC also warned the Agency to keep of telecom regulatory activities reminding that there is only one telecom regulatory agency in Nigeria, which is the NCC itself.
The regulator made it open to NESREA that it has no regulatory power over telecom facilities.
NCC and NESREA has been in cold war over NESREA’s harassment of operators they alleged did not carry out proper environmental impact assessment before deploying mast and towers.
The agency, in the last one year, has at will, sealed off facilities of many operators, aggravating the ailing service quality the operators have.
However, NCC top officials have at different times engaged the top officials of NESREA on diplomatic discuss where after each visit, a likely resolution picture is often painted. However, the issue still remains a sore point in the operation set backs of the telecom operators plying their trade in Nigeria.
But until penultimate week when NESREA went to seal off the MTN facility located at the EFAB Estate Life Camp Abuja, the Commission has not thought it expedient to challenge NESREA.
Addressing newsmen after unsealing the MTN mast, Director Public Affairs of the NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, said the commission will henceforth frown at any government agency that interferes with the work of the commission.
He said the guidelines from the commission stated that a minimum of 5 meter distance is acceptable but NESREA Acts states ten meters.
According to him,  " NCC had to unseal the mast which was sealed  two weeks ago  by NESREA under the guise that the mast was less than 10 meters from buildings as stipulated in their guidelines.
"NCC is the regulator of the telecoms sector, our guidelines stated that it should be 5 meters setback but the MTN mast is 5.6 meters away from the surrounding structures, but without consulting us they sealed the bay station. NCC will not allow any contradicting regulator to close any base stations because the commission is working hard to see that the quality of services improve in the country”.
Ojobo added that "operators should be allowed to do their jobs, we don't have any issue against any secondary regulator but they should come to us first to see how we can ensure compliance. We must maintain our standards and ensure consistency and investors must be sure of the rules and abide by it. No other agency should interfere or challenge our guidelines," he said.

The truth must be told.....we are the only telecom regulator

Also, NCC’s Head of compliance and monitoring Mr. Ephriam Nwokenneya corroborated Ojobo, saying that Nesrea should focus more on environmental issues rather than making undue interference in the telecommunication sector.

Don't expect best quality if criminal damage on our infrastructure continues, MTN cries out

By Prince Osuagwu

Nigeria’s leading telecommunications operator, MTN Nigeria, has decried the rising incidence of damage to its fibre-optic network, warning of its long-term negative impact on quality of service and national security.
The company’s Corporate Services Executive, Mr. Wale Goodluck, in a statement in Lagos, said MTN on average suffers more than 70 fibre cuts in various locations across the country every month. Giving a breakdown, Goodluck said about 42 percent of the cuts are as a result of poor road construction practices, 25 percent are traceable to wilful damage perpetrated by criminal elements, while the remaining 33 percent are traceable to other causes, including sabotage.
“In the past, we have lost network availability in over 1000 base stations cumulatively across the network as a result of these cuts. This has affected services predominantly in the South East, particularly, Onitsha and Port Harcourt, and also other areas such as Kano, Abuja, Kaduna, and Ibadan, with customers experiencing complete loss of service in some of the locations, while others experienced severe difficulties in making and receiving calls in other locations,” said Goodluck.
According to Goodluck, relevant security agencies and the industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) are aware of the development and have been supportive of MTN as the company grapples with the challenge.
“We are now constrained to appeal to members of the public to further assist by reporting any suspicious activity around telecommunications installations, which are critical national infrastructure. By so doing, you will play your part in protecting your right to good services and the full benefits of the ICT revolution”, Goodluck said.
He reiterated that the company is committed to driving the socio-economic development of Nigeria through the provision of world standard telecommunications and ICT services.

Nokia Unveils Phone for 1st time Mobile Phone Users

By Prince Osuagwu

In line with its strategy of connecting the next billion, the world’s largest manufacturer of mobile phones has unveiled its most affordable mobile phone to date – the Nokia 103 in Nigeria. Nigeria is the first market to launch this phone, which is designed specifically for people buying their first phones.
The Vice President Nokia West Africa, Mr. James Rutherfoord, said the choice of Nigeria as the lead market for this device underscores the importance of the Nigerian market and the need to empower millions of Nigerians who are yet to acquire a mobile phone. He further explained that the Nokia 103 is for people looking for an affordable and practical phone that gives them the essential features needed to help them progress economically and socially without compromising on design and quality.
Apart from its fresh look and durable anti-scratch cover, the Nokia 103 is designed with long lasting battery life of up to 11 hours talk time and 27 days standby time. Other features include built-in flashlight, FM radio, speaking clock and MP3 grade ringtones.
Nokia is the only company providing mobile devices to people in virtually every market of the world, across economic segments.  Of the world’s 7 billion people, 3.2 billion don’t have a phone yet due largely to economic constraints. According to Mr. Rutherfoord, “Nokia has been progressively lowering the entry barrier to the market while continually increasing the capability of our devices and delivering phones with contemporary fresh designs”. Nokia is committed to helping to mobilize the next generation – the next billion and beyond – and ensure they have access to the advantages of mobile technology. With the Nokia 103, Nokia is making mobile connectivity a reality for lower-income consumers