NCC attributes poor telecoms services to substandard equipment

The telecoms regulatory agency also said government plans to take regulatory action against any service providers in the telecoms industry, found with non-typed approved information telecommunication infrastructure.Speaking in Lagos at a one day sensitisation forum with the theme: “Equipment Type Approval: A Mandatory Regulatory Tool for Safe Telecommunication Industry”, the Executive Vice Chairman of the […]

The telecoms regulatory agency also said government plans to take regulatory action against any service providers in the telecoms industry, found with non-typed approved information telecommunication infrastructure.
Speaking in Lagos at a one day sensitisation forum with the theme: “Equipment Type Approval: A Mandatory Regulatory Tool for Safe Telecommunication Industry”, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Eugene Juwah disclosed that it is now mandated on all operators to strictly adhere to regulatory standard type of telecoms equipment contained in Nigerian Communications Act.
Juwah who was represented by the Director Technical Standard and Network integrity, Dr. Ballarabe Musa Sanni, said Nigeria Communication Act 2003 section 132 empowers the commission to carry out type approval of all communication equipment for use in the country.
The EVC criticized the operators for not getting approved certificate from NCC for their equipment saying such practice is abhorrent to the national interest.
He said “Type approved for equipment in Nigeria telecoms is to ensure international standards as it relates to Electromagnetic radiation, Electromaganetic Compatibility (EMC) and Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) for human safety and key performance indicator for monitoring of service quality delivery in Nigeria.”
According to him, the same regulatory policy is applicable to mobile devices as NCC has now put in place surveillance mechanism to safeguard public health against the use of fake IT gadgets.
He said: “The commission is aware of proliferation of sub-standard phones and other equipment by unpatriotic elements in the society which are not only detriment to human health but also contribute to the poor quality of service in the industry.”
Juwah informed that NCC will built a strong alliance with the Nigeria Custom Service because the influx of non type approve of phones in Nigeria is also due to porous boarder across the country.