…Restates NCC’s Commitment To Data Transparency
The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Aminu Maida, has expressed the commission’s concerns over the fast rate oftelecom subscribers’ data depletion, pointing out that the commission’s findings show that most depletions of their data are largely due to advancements in technology.
Maida, who made this remark in his keynote address at the 93rd Telecoms Consumer Parliament (TCP) held at the Communications and Digital Economy Complex Auditorium in Abuja with the theme “Optimizing Data Experience: Empowering Consumers through Awareness and Transparency in a Consumer-Centric Telecom Industry”, underscored the critical need for data transparency and consumer empowerment in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
The industry regulator highlighted the remarkable transformation of Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape over the past two decades, evolving from basic voice services to high-speed data connectivity, linking the development to the significant impact of 3G, 4G, and now 5G networks on the adoption of digital services such as social media, e-commerce, and online banking.
With the increasing demand for data, Maida addressed pressing consumer concerns over data depletion and billing transparency.
He explained that despite the advancements in technology, many consumers feel their data depletes faster than expected the commission’s analysis revealed that data depletion and billing issues were major concerns for consumers.
According to him, in response to the trend, the NCC directed Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to conduct audits of their billing systems, which results do not show any major issues.
He clarified that even then, perceptions persist due to the impact of high-resolution devices and the complexity of operator tariffs.
Maida explained that with the advent of 4G and 5G networks, as well as devices with ultra-high-definition screens, data consumption had naturally increased.
For instance, he pointed out that viewing a photo on Instagram that might have required only 100 kilobytes of data five years ago can now consume between two to four megabytes due to advanced camera resolutions while streaming platforms like YouTube can consume about 3.5 to 5.4 gigabytes per hour, further contributing to data depletion concerns.
Maida recalled that in order to tackle these challenges, the NCC launched a ‘Joint Industry Campaign on Consumer Awareness on Smarter Data Usage’, which spanned various media platforms, including radio, television, newspapers, and SMS, offering practical tips for managing data usage, with the aimed of educating consumers on effective data management.
Similarly, he highlighted the NCC’s efforts to simplify tariffs and provide clear, accessible information on data plans and pricing, and expressed optimism that “transparency will empower consumers to make better-informed decisions about their data usage and billing.”
This is even as he hinted that in addition to these initiatives, the NCC was finalizing Major Incident Reporting Guidelines, which will require operators to inform consumers of major incidents impacting their networks, and that the commission was also working on coverage maps detailing operators’ network strength across the country, allowing consumers to make more informed choices when selecting an operator.
Maida reaffirmed the NCC’s commitment to transparency and accountability within the sector, stressing that “our goal is to create a truly consumer-centric telecom industry, where consumers feel valued, informed, empowered, and satisfied with the services they receive.”
The 93rd Telecoms Consumer Parliament served as a forum for open dialogue with stakeholders in the telecoms industry to discuss ways to optimize the data experience for telecom consumers in the country.
Photo Caption
L-R: Head, Customer Operations (North) MTN, Chikaodi Ofoegbe; Chief Executive Officer, 9Mobile, Obafemi Banigbe; Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria , Gbenga Adebayo; NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Aminu Maida; Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, NCC, Rimini Makama; Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Carl Cruz, during the 93rd edition of the Telecom Consumer Parliament hosted by the Commission on Thursday, November 7, in Abuja
