Due to the
directives of the Nigerian Communications Commission to deactivate subscriber
identification module (SIM) cards which remains unregistered as at July 1,
2013, it has summoned the major players MTN, Glo, Airtel, and Etisalat to
release the list of their unregistered SIM cards.
Some
operators have been reported to be reluctant to deactivate unregistered SIM
cards to avoid losing customers but these operators may now be at a risk of inducing
maximum fine from the NCC if they continue to disobey NCC’s directives.
A statement
signed by the Director of Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement, Mr A. S. Ubale
Maska, on behalf of the executive vice-chairman of NCC, indicated that these
network operators must forward a summary of registered and active lines on its
network as at June 30, 2013.
They were
also directed to forward the details of unregistered and deactivated lines to
the commission. NCC stated that all deactivated SIM cards must be disallowed
full access to the network including ability to make and receive calls, to send
and receive SMS and all other services offered by the operators.
“Please
note that the commission has commenced compliance monitoring and if any
unregistered SIM cards are found to be active on your networks, the commission
shall invoke its powers under regulation 19 and 20 of the Registration of
Subscribers Regulation 2011 and impose the maximum fine on your companies
without further recourse to any network.”
A full confirmation
must be provided by individual operators that unregistered lines have been
fully deactivated in line with the regulations of NCC. “That these
information/data should reach the commission on or before the close of business
on Friday, July 5, 2013” Maska said.
He added
that in line with Regulation 13 (4) of the NCC’s Registration of Telephone
Subscribers Registration 2011, the mobile operators are to forward on a weekly
basis thereafter, details of the registrations of the Biometric information and
other personal information of new lines registered to the commission for entry
thereafter into the Central Database.
In
statement from MTN, its Corporate Services Executive, Mr Wale Goodluck, said:
“Following the expiration of the deadline for SIM registration, MTN has
deactivated unregistered subscribers as directed by the NCC. We, therefore,
wish to inform affected subscribers that they can reconnect their lines by
visiting the nearest MTN Service Centre, ConnectStore or SIM registration
point, as we have set up registration points at several places for this
purpose.”
Also, the
Chief Executive Officer of Etisalat Nigeria, Mr Steven Evans, indicated that
Etisalat has fully complied with NCC’s directives. “We made strenuous efforts
to reach all remaining subscribers who had not registered or with whom there
was a problem in terms of the registration information recorded, this includes
multiple phone calls and text messages.” He said any disconnected Etisalat line
could be reconnected by visiting an Etisalat Experience Centre.
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NCC wants list of deactivated SIM cards from network operators