EditorNIGERIAN Communication Commission (NCC) has announced its readiness to auction five spectrum slots for successful deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) network technology in Nigeria.
NCC Executive Vice-Chairman, Prof Umar Danbatta, made this known on Tuesday during public hearing and inquiry on the proposed draft regulations for telephone subscriber registration, SIM replacement and spectrum allocation guidelines, 2021.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThis is following federal government’s approval of national policy on 5G network in the country, early September.
Danbatta disclosed that the commission has put everything in place to auction five slots of 5G spectrum.
He said, “When I appeared before the Senate on our readiness for 5G deployment, I said we were 95 per cent but right now we are 97 per cent.”
Speaking about the public hearing and inquiry on the spectrum trading, SIM registration and telephone user’s guidelines, the NCC Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management, Adeleke Adewolu, said the exercise would enable the commission get vital information to help improve operations in the industry.
He said, “This spectrum trading guidelines, telephone users’ guidelines and SIM replacement guidelines will help to guarantee growth in the industry.”
NCC Director, Legal Services, Mrs Josephine Amuwahe, listed some of the new guidelines for Sim registration and activation.
While explaining the guidelines, Amuwahe stated that any network provider that allowed unregistered SIM to be active would pay a penalty fee of N200, 000 per SIM.
Amuwahe stated that the new guidelines extended SIM Activation window period from increased from 30 days to 60 days.
Other aspects of the guidelines include:
“For the reactivation of a deactivated line, the person will have to go through the process of new activation of a Sim card,” she said.
“Foreigners with visas, two or more years, are to register their NIN before acquiring a telephone line but those of less than two years visas are not required to get an NIN.
“A subscriber is a person that is of 18 years and above. Subscribers are only allowed to register four SIM cards per a network provider.
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