In furtherance of its sustained initiatives to protect users of mobile phones and other devices against theft and related security risks, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has introduced the Device Management System, NCC-DMS, which is a tracking infrastructure for phones nationwide.
This device is aimed at providing a comprehensive Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR), which will further create a unified database for tracking and monitoring of mobile devices across all mobile networks in the country.
This new initiative is outlined in the commission’s ‘Type Approval Business Rule 2024’, and part of its objectives include to prevent the theft of mobile phones and other devices, curtail the use of counterfeit devices, and also ensure compliance with established standards.
A statement by the Commission on the DMS infrastructure’s regulation, indicated that all mobile network operators (MNOs) were by the regulation required to connect to the DMS and mirror network-related policies configured by the NCC, which will ensure a uniform approach to device regulation.
The statement reads in part: “To mitigate the use of stolen phones for crime, and facilitate blocking or tracing of stolen mobile phones and other smart devices, one of the means to achieve this is through the deployment of Device Management System,” the commission said in a statement.
“The commission’s objective, first announced in 2021, is to enhance transparency, accountability, and national security in the telecommunications sector while ensuring the safe and efficient utilisation of Nigeria’s communication infrastructure.
“To curtail the counterfeit mobile phone market, discourage mobile phone theft, enhance national security, protect consumer interest, increase revenue generation for the government, and reduce the rate of kidnapping.
“To this effect, NCC-DMS shall acquire the International Mobile Equipment Identity of all devices latching to the communication network and synchronise with international databases of IMEI repositories.
“NCC-DMS shall maintain a registry of all communication devices available in the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the commission noted in the new rule”, the industry regulatory commission added.
On the cost implication, the Commission disclosed that a device registration fee would be introduced by the NCC for the NCC-DMS, separate from existing type approval fees, and that the fee will be mandatory for all registered devices.
