NCC discovers 41 illegal Internet Service Providers

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it has
discovered 41 fake and unlicenced service providers
operating in the country’s telecommunications
landscape.
The regulatory body made this known in its ”2016 Q1
Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Reports”, made
available to Nigerian Pilot, in Lagos.
It said there was compliance monitoring regarding the
engagement of unlicenced service provider, providing
internet/data access in Nigeria.

The report stated that following the commissions’
surveillance and intelligence gathering exercise, it was
discovered that some financial institutions engaged the
illegal providers for their internet and data services.
According to the report, in line with the commission’s
compliance processes, these banks were requested to
provide the names and details of their service providers
in this regard.
”Arising from this compliance check, the Commission
has discovered that 41 companies engaged were
operating without the requisite authorisation.

”To this end, the Commission has commenced the
necessary enforcement process in line with the
provisions of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003,” it
said.
The report said that the telecommunications umpire’s
activities were consistent with Section 89 of the
Nigerian Communications Act 2003.

It said that the section mandated NCC to ”monitor all
significant matters relating to the performance of all
licensed telecom service providers and publish annual
reports at the end of each financial year”.
The report noted that NCC had developed Compliance
Monitoring and Enforcement strategies to ensure fair
competition, ethical market conduct and optimal quality
service in the telecommunications industry.