NCC: We’ll undertake cost research to protect Nigerians from telcos’ pricing

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it plans to carry out cost research towards protecting consumers from possible unfair pricing by telecommunications companies.

Josephine Amuwa, NCC’s director on policy, competition, and economic analysis (PCEA), spoke on Thursday during a two-day annual departmental retreat in Abuja.

She said the determination of mobile termination rates, USSD pricing, and mobile number portability transaction fee are some of the issues her team has been handling in recent times.

According to her, the PCEA department would be providing up-to-date statistical information on voice and data subscriptions, teledensity, as well as the level of broadband penetration in the country.

“NCC’s policy competition and economic analysis (PCEA) department has been directly responsible for approving, regulating, and monitoring of telecoms tariffs,” the NCC director said.

“This includes assessing the level of competition in the industry, monitoring behaviour, measuring the performance of the industry as well as providing policy directions on topical issues related to the ecosystem.

“The department is fortified to provide Nigerians with economic indication on telecommunications contribution to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP).”

Sunday Atu, NCC’s director on competition and tariff, said evaluations are ongoing towards deepening competition among telcos in the country, using international practices as a benchmark.

Featured image: Umar Danbatta, NCC’s executive vice-chairman