*The Nigerian Communications Commission discloses the country鈥檚 telecoms sector regulator鈥檚 two-day 鈥榖enchmarking visit鈥� to Ghana鈥檚 National Communications Authority has enabled the two regulators to share insights on Quality of Service monitoring, telecoms infrastructure and consumer protection, cybersecurity, as well technical cooperation, and joint efforts at monitoring telecoms operators across their regions

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Ghana鈥檚 National Communications Authority (NCA) have advanced their regulatory oversight in the telecommunications sector of the economy with the former鈥檚 recent two-day visit to the latter, in Accra, Ghanaian capital.

绿帽献妻 reports the NCC disclosed a delegation of top officials from the Commission, led by Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO), had embarked on a two-day 鈥渂enchmarking visit鈥� to their counterparts in the former Gold Coast.

Dr. Maida (1st left) and other officials in a meeting with NCA’s Acting Director-General Fianko

The Nigerian Communications Commission was established by the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 as the independent National Regulatory Authority for the telecommunications industry in the country, whereas the National Communications Authority, established by the National Communications Authority Act, 2008 (Act 769), is a regulatory body in Ghana, responsible for regulating and licensing communications services in the West African country.

Insights on key regulatory activities in Nigeria, Ghana

According to the Nigerian telecoms sector regulatory Commission, the recent visit to the Ghanaian National Communications Authority, in Accra, also afforded the NCC and NCA to share insights on regulatory activities, including 鈥淨uality of Service (QoS) monitoring, telecoms infrastructure protection, consumer protection, and cybersecurity鈥�, among others.

The NCC, in a blog post via its verified social media account, further stated the telecoms regulator shared key milestones it had recorded in the country鈥檚 digital ecosystem, such as the successful National Identification Numbers and Subscriber Identity Module (NIN-SIM) integration, consumer satisfaction indices, incident reporting platform, and tariff simplification for subscribers.

 

Maida and the NCC delegation on a tour of the NCA facility during the visit to Accra, Ghanaian capital聽

The Nigerian delegation equally, highlighted the significance of critical infrastructure protection, especially under the new Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) mechanism in alliance with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), in Abuja, FCT.

鈥淏oth regulators agreed on the importance of knowledge sharing, technical cooperation, and joint efforts at monitoring telecoms operators across their regions,鈥� the NCC said.

About NCC and NCA industry mandates, responsibilities

The Nigerian Communications Commission is responsible for creating an enabling environment for competition among operators in the industry, as well as ensuring the provision of qualitative and efficient telecommunications services throughout the country.

Over the years NCC has earned a reputation as a foremost Telecom regulatory agency in Africa.

The Commission, on its corporate We site, says it is hoping 鈥渢o catalyse the use of (Information and Communications Technology) ICTs for different aspects of national development.鈥�

The telecoms sector regulator said it had initiated several programmes to help stimulate demand and accelerate the uptake of ICT tools and services necessary for the enthronement of a knowledge society in Nigeria.

The NCC, to achieve its mandate, noted that it has put in place the necessary licensing and regulatory framework for the supply of telecommunications services in the country.

The Ghanaian National Communications Authority oversees telecommunications, broadcasting, and related technologies in the country.

The NCA also 鈥渁ims to promote fair competition, protect consumer interests, and foster innovation in the communications industry鈥� by becoming a “professional, proactive regulator, adaptive to emerging changes in the communication and digital ecosystem, and delivering optimally to all stakeholders.”

Among its other fundamental functions as the industry regulator, the NCA also highlights its mandate to include grants licences for the operation of communications services and determines eligibility criteria; setting and enforcing standards for the provision of communications services, including quality of service and equipment standards; and allocation, assignment, and regulation of the use of Radio frequencies in Ghana.

The Ghanaian regulator as well provides safeguards and mechanisms for consumer protection, including complaint handling; ensures fair competition among service providers and prevents anti-competitive practices; monitors the Quality of Service provided by licensees in the country.

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