By Othniel Canice, Abuja.
The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida says the commission is collaborating with the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to review the 2000 National Telecom Policy and introduce quarterly disclosures on quality performance by Mobile Network Operators, MNOs.
Dr. Maida made the statement at a media engagement with Journalists in Abuja.
He said: “Since the national telecom policy 2000; you’ll be pleased to know that we’ve started engagements with the ministry to revise the telecom policy. Because as per the act, the NCA 2003, we are to guide and provide input to the national telecoms policy. But it’s driven by the ministry.
“That process has started and that was also contained in Honorable Minister Bosun Tijani’s strategic blueprint, which he released early when he assumed office.
“So we need to let Nigerians know all our operators, who is second, third, who is first, second, and third.
He explained: “And you know what that would do? The person who came last, he’ll be in trouble with his board. He’ll have to go and explain to his board. Or it will be an opportunity for him to tell his board, I need that investment that you have been denying me.
“We want to complement it with an information disclosure approach as well to drive that competitiveness.
“So that is why you’ve seen us increasingly releasing information, taking the bold step to make corrections to some of our data points, whether it’s the population rebasing we did, or posting in same linkage policy conclusion on the audit we did to adjust the numbers, which unfortunately led to one of the operators dropping significantly.
“So in our approach moving forward, you’re going to see a lot of information disclosure. By the end of this month or sometime early in September, we’re also going to be releasing a public map for network performance. And this is based on information that is aggregated from all of us as consumers.”
Metrics
Maida said: “So all the performance data as you’re using your devices as uploaded to the network. So this is independent data for you. It’s going to be aggregated and we’re going to put it on the map, which is going to be available publicly
“We’re going to be doing quarterly performance reports based on that data where we’re going to give an extensive analysis of how the networks perform on various indices. All based on real data.
“So state by state there will be an analysis on various performance metrics. So download speeds, latency, how fast web pages load. So the things that matter for us from a quality of experience perspective.”
According to him, cooperate governance is key to enhanced performance.
He said: “We looked at the indicators of good corporate governance. And then we looked at financial performance, service performance, service delivery performance, and regulatory compliance. And the link was clear.
“So corporate governance for us we see as a very, very strong tool to also use as part of our information disclosure and transparency approach to this industry.”
On improved quality of service he said, “Everybody is yearning for improved quality of service and I’d just like to reassure you that we are working very very hard in very close collaboration with all stakeholders, the operators, the major ones, the MNOs.
“We have revised our QoS guidelines so no longer do we just hold the mobile network operators accountable. There are also the Tower Companies (TowerCos) that are not known by a lot; the people who provide power and security.
“Power and security are two big issues in the country today. So that category of licensee, the co-location service providers who we often refer to as the TACOs, we have brought them into scope to hold them accountable for quality of service,” Dr. Maida explained.
On failed banks’ top-ups he said, “The director of consumer affairs with our counterparts in the CBN set up a task force. And there’s now a framework that is undergoing review to standardise the operations around top-ups and recharge
“We’re working with the banks and work with the banks through their regulator is because nobody buys top-up with cash.”