…Urges community protection of telecom infrastructure.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has solicited the support of telecoms consumers in complementing the Commission’s important efforts to ensure improved telecoms service delivery in their communities.

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NCC (EVC/CEO), Prof. Umar Danbatta, made the appeal at the second edition of the Village Square Dialogue (VSD), one of the Commission’s consumer outreach programmes. The dialogue took place in Danbatta Local Government Area, Kano State recently with a focus on, “Protection of Telecom Infrastructure for Improved Quality of Service: The Role of Residents.”

While addressing telecoms consumers and traditional rulers at the forum, Danbatta, who was represented by NCC’s Director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Bako Wakil, said to ensure improved telecom service delivery, a community must protect telecom infrastructure in its vicinity by allowing the installations of equipment and maintenance or repairs on sites by technical staff of service providers.

Danbatta also enjoined members of respective communities to guard against destruction of telecoms infrastructure, through prompt notification of service providers of any ongoing road construction activities by companies or government agencies to avoid service disruption that may arise from damaged infrastructure.

The EVC further stated that protecting telecom infrastructure is very important in any community, as the ability to connect and communicate is fundamental to human existence considering its centrality in improving businesses, government services, education, communities and families to share information through seamless connections.

He also highlighted that technological advances have assisted people to gain access to learning opportunities outside traditional schooling. “Today, you simply need a computer, smartphone, and the Internet connection to do so many things and telecom infrastructure in your communities provide the critical facilities that support Internet access to these devices and therefore, you are expected to protect the infrastructure,” he said.

Danbatta particularly noted that vandalism of telecom infrastructure has a great negative impact on the community as its reduces coverage area, leading to ‘dead spots’ on the network which result in poor quality of service (QoS) and quality of experience (QoE) by the consumers.

In addition, Danbatta said that destruction of telecom infrastructure discourages investment in network expansion by operators.

Besides satisfaction of basic needs, and improvement in education, Danbatta told the participants that by protecting telecom infrastructure, they are  helping in creating jobs, promoting e-commerce, assisting farmers in the villages to connect with potential buyers in the cities, as well as enhancing connectivity through which citizens in both rural and urban areas are able to harvest their potentials, access information, and engage in social interactions among others.

“Therefore, as a community, you are expected to report cases of telecoms infrastructure vandalism to the nearest law enforcement agents such as the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and share adequate information received from NCC with your family, friends, neighbours. We believe that together with your cooperation as critical stakeholders in the telecoms sector, we can all work with the law enforcement authorities in protecting telecom infrastructure in your community,” he added.

While reiterating the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that the telecoms consumer is protected, well informed, empowered and educated on telecoms-related issues, Danbatta reminded the participants of the availability of the NCC’s toll-free number 622 for resolving telecom service-related complaints; the Emergency Number 112 to get succour during emergencies; the 2442 Do –Not-Disturb Short Code for managing cases of unsolicited text messages, among others.

The EVC also encouraged participants to leverage the various social media and web portals of the Commission to lodge complaints for effective and satisfactory resolutions.

“One of the NCC’s core mandates is to ensure that the consumer is the main focus of the Commission’s regulatory activities. This is why Section 104 of the Nigerian Communications (NCA) 2003 mandates the NCC to ensure that service providers meet such minimum standards of QoS as the Commission may, from time to time, specify and publish; deal reasonably with consumers; and adequately address consumer complaints”, Danbatta said.

The event was preceded by a courtesy visit to the District Head of Danbatta community, Alhaji Wada Waziri, who expressed delight at the mission of the Commission in his community. The maiden edition of the VSD took place in Ogun State in April, 2022.