The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued new key performance indicators (KPIs) to mobile network operators (MNOs) in furtherance of its regulatory roles of ensuring high quality of service for telecom subscribers in the country.
The newly released QoS Regulations 2024 by the commission set specific parameters for the different network segments of the telecom service providers covering 2G, 3G, and 4G and specifically focused on parameters such as Drop Call Rates, Call Setup Success Rate, Traffic Congestion, among others.
According to the telecom regulator, failure to meet each parameter by a telco will attracts N5 million fine, with an additional N500,000 per day for the period the infraction lasts.
The Commission stated that the telcos were to file their QoS report on a monthly basis and that as the industry regulator, it may also carry out its measurement through tests, consumer surveys, and data collection from its Network Operating Centres (NOCs).
Industry experts believe that the new QoS regulation may have been prompted by the recent 50% telecom service target set by the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, which the NCC had assured, would be met before the end of this year.
In a recent statement, the commission listed other targets of the Strategic Agenda 2023 as including boosting Nigeria’s broadband penetration rate to 70% by the end of 2025; delivering data download speed of 25Mbps in urban areas and 10Mbps in rural areas by the end of 2025; and provision of coverage for at least 80% of the country’s population, especially the underserved and unserved populations by the end of 2026.
To achieve the QoS target, the Commission maintained that rather than taking a national outlook on data collection for quality of service delivery, it had adopted an approach where more granular data is collected from operators and analysed to determine the quality of service at very small, local levels, with a view to ensuring the deployment of optimised solutions or regulatory actions where needed nationwide.
The NCC clarifies that the approach focuses on ensuring that the consumers receive an enhanced Quality of Experience, beyond the narrow and very technically-evaluated Quality of Service.
