*Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission, in a keynote speech at the 93rd Telecoms Consumer Parliament, in Abuja, reaffirms the Commission鈥檚 commitment to ensuring continued awareness and transparency for Quality of Experience (QoE) for telecoms consumers, noting as the Internet use has become essential to daily life, 鈥榦ur goal is for consumers to be consistently satisfied with telecoms services鈥�

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has restated its commitment to ensuring continued awareness and transparency by service providers towards Quality of Experience (QoE) for telecoms consumers.

绿帽献妻 reports the telecoms sector regulatory Commission reaffirmed this as its fundamental role at the 93rd Telecoms Consumer Parliament (TCP) with the theme, 鈥�Optimising Data Experience: Empowering Consumers through Awareness and Transparency in a Consumer-Centric Telecom Industry鈥�, held in Abuja, FCT.

Speaking, held at the Communications and Digital Economy Complex auditorium, Abuja, Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NCC, in a Keynote Speech, averred that as the Internet use has become essential to daily life, the Commission鈥檚 role is 鈥渢o not only ensure accessibility but to enhance service delivery for consumers.鈥�

Going down the memory lane, Dr. Maida said over the past two decades, the telecommunications landscape in Nigeria had transformed from basic voice services to high-speed data that connects, informs, and powers innovations.

He noted that with the rollout of 3G, 4G, and now 5G services, 鈥渨e鈥檝e seen Nigerians adopting social media, e-commerce, online banking, and more.

The EVC/CEO of NCC also stated the introduction of 3G networks in the mid-2000s marked the beginning of this shift, enabling basic browsing and e-mail.

Maximising 4G and 5G services in Nigeria鈥檚 telecoms ecosystem, by Maida

Maida, in his address, also touched on the West African country鈥檚 leap to 4G LTE to herald 鈥渇aster speeds, enabling video streaming, online gaming, and a myriad of digital activities.鈥�

He stated: 鈥淣ow, with 5G promising even faster speeds and lower latency, new frontiers are opening for innovations such as smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and the Internet of Things, driving further demand for data.

鈥淭oday, as data consumption grows, fueled by digital advancements, we must address consumer concerns over data depletion and billing transparency.鈥�

Reeling off certain global statistics to buttress his points, the EVC/CEO of the Commission said DataReportal had noted there are now over five billion Internet users worldwide, with Nigeria alone accounting for 132 million connections.

Nigerians spend an average of four hours and 20 minutes on the social media daily, far above the global average, underscoring how deeply embedded digital interaction is in our lives.

He further disclosed in 2024, Nigeria鈥檚 daily data usage averaged 336 gigabytes per second, marking a 39 percent increase from the previous year鈥攁 clear indication of the data-driven lifestyle several Nigerian digital consumers lead.

Addressing consumers鈥� concerns about data usage and depletion

Despite the high statistics on the data-driven lifestyle several Nigerian telecoms consumers, Maida noted that many consumers still feel their data depletes faster than expected.

The NCC Chief Executive stated: 鈥淣igeria isn鈥檛 alone in this; other countries, like Eswatini, are also working to address similar consumer concerns about data usage.

In regard to what the Commission has done in this regard, Maida disclosed the NCC, earlier this year, analysed consumer complaints, revealing data depletion and billing issues as top concerns.

鈥淚n response, we directed Mobile Network Operators and ISPs to conduct audits of their billing systems, which reported no major issues.

鈥淗owever, perceptions persist due to two main factors: The impact of high-resolution devices and improved technologies on data use; and the complexity of operator tariffs,鈥� said he in the keynote speech.

Possible factors pushing data consumption rate

According to the Commission, with the advent of 4G and 5G, as well as devices with ultra-high-definition screens, 鈥渄ata consumption has naturally increased.鈥�

Maida also cited as an example, that while viewing a photo on Instagram might have required only 100 kilobytes of data five years ago, today, with advanced camera resolutions, a photo can consume between two to four megabytes when opened on Instagram.

According to Tech Advisor, an online resource that offers tech reviews, spending an hour on Instagram can set you off an average of 600 Megabytes of your data, while streaming platforms like YouTube would set you off by about 3.5 to 5.4 Gigabytes per hour.

NCC鈥檚 efforts at consumer education for effective data management

According to Maida, improved technologies go beyond their purchase cost to our pockets, they also come at a cost to data.

He said: 鈥淏ecause they have better screen resolutions, they consume higher quality media that consumes more data. This is the same for our increasing digital habits.鈥�

Therefore, in recognising these challenges, the EVC/CEO noted the Commission, in collaboration with major operators, launched a Joint Industry Campaign on Consumer Awareness on Smarter Data Usage.

This media campaign, spanning radio, television, newspapers, and SMS, aims to educate consumers on effective data management.

For example, many smartphone users may not know that their devices can track data usage and allow them to set limits on the amount of data they want to use, he told the audience.

He further averred that smartphones, even when idle, often run background applications like automatic updates and location services, which consume data. Maida noted: 鈥淎dditionally, high-definition streaming services like Netflix consume substantial data鈥� about three gigabytes per hour in high definition, or seven gigabytes in ultra-high definition.鈥�

On the essence of continued consumer education in this regard, the Commission believes that an informed consumer is a better-equipped consumer, leading to a clearer understanding of data consumption and reducing misconceptions about data depletion.

Still, in a bid to address tariff complexity, Maida related that the NCC recently issued a Guidance on Tariff Simplification, requiring operators to provide clear, accessible information on data plans and pricing.

鈥淭his transparency will empower consumers to make better-informed decisions about their data usage and billing,鈥� he stated.

QoS requires collaborations across the telecoms value chain, says Maida

According to him, in coming months, network operators will implement this guidance, presenting consumers with tables detailing their tariff plans, billing rates on each plan, and all terms and conditions related to the tariff plans they are on.

Maida took used the occasion to remind the audience of the heart of the Commission鈥檚 Strategic Vision under his watch: the commitment to meet the expectations of our stakeholders the Consumers, the Industry/Licensees, and the Government.

The NCC Chief stated: 鈥淚 daresay that the government and operators thrive on satisfied consumers.

鈥淭o achieve this, our focus has evolved from simply demanding quality service to ensuring a holistic Quality of Experience throughout the telecom consumer鈥檚 lifecycle鈥攆rom SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) registration to usage and even service disposal.

鈥淥ur goal is for consumers to be consistently satisfied with telecom services.

He equally related that over the past months we the Commission鈥檚 data analysis has shown that quality service delivery 鈥渋s not solely the responsibility of Mobile Network Operators; it requires collaboration across the value chain.

鈥淜ey stakeholders, such as TowerCos, which provide power and shared infrastructure, as well as those providing essential backhaul services, whether by fibre, microwave or even satellite, connecting base stations to the core networks of MNOs, all play crucial roles in ensuring high-quality telecom services.鈥�

Going forward and in recognition of this fact, Maida said the Commission had revised its guidelines to include provisions that hold each player in the value chain accountable for quality service.

However, as the Commission remains committed to attaining and sustaining these goals, the EVC/CEO of the Commission revealed the industry also faces challenges, such as vandalism and theft of telecoms assets, which frustrate operators鈥� efforts at delivering quality telecoms services.

Telecoms classified as Critical National Information Infrastructure in Nigeria

Maida recalled that through NCC鈥檚 advocacy and collaborations with key stakeholders, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, July 2024, signed a Presidential Order designating telecoms infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) in Nigeria.

鈥淭his Executive Order strengthens our ability to address issues of vandalism, tampering, and unauthorised access to telecoms infrastructure,鈥� stated he.

Maida reaffirmed the Commission鈥檚 commitment to transparency and accountability within the sector.

鈥淭he Commission is finalising our Major Incident Reporting Guidelines, which will require operators to inform consumers of major incidents impacting their networks, with these reports also accessible on our Web site.

鈥淐onsumers can also soon expect coverage maps detailing operators鈥� network strength across the country.

鈥淭hese maps will indicate coverage gaps, service quality, and signal strength, allowing consumers to make more informed choices when selecting an operator,鈥� he assured Nigerians.

Maida added: 鈥淲ith sustained commitment, we can build an ecosystem where every Nigerian enjoys the benefits of world-class telecommunications services.鈥�

Kindly Share This Story