In a statement issued by Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, head of Public Affairs at the NCC, the Commission disclosed that it is working closely with key industry stakeholders and licensed operators to address the disruptions, which have negatively impacted the quality of experience for telecom users in the Federal Capital Territory.

According to the NCC, the service degradation is largely linked to diesel supply disruptions affecting IHS Nigeria Limited, a major colocation infrastructure provider responsible for powering base stations used by Airtel and MTN in the affected areas. The disruption has resulted in intermittent service outages across parts of Abuja.

The Commission attributed the diesel supply challenge to the activities of the National Oil and Gas Suppliers Association (NOGASA), which reportedly interfered with fuel distribution to critical telecom infrastructure, thereby impairing network availability.

“The NCC recognizes the critical role of reliable power supply in delivering optimal telecommunications services,” the statement said, reaffirming the regulator’s commitment to ensuring seamless communication services for Nigerians.

To mitigate the situation, the Commission said it is actively engaging all relevant stakeholders to remove diesel supply bottlenecks and explore more sustainable solutions that will prevent future disruptions to telecom infrastructure.

The NCC further emphasized its role in facilitating dialogue between affected service providers and industry players, noting that these engagements are aimed at achieving a swift resolution to the challenges impacting service quality in Abuja.

Despite the disruptions, the Commission reiterated its dedication to fostering a conducive regulatory environment that supports the growth, resilience, and sustainability of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.

“The Commission remains committed to managing the situation effectively and will keep the public informed of progress toward the full restoration of telecommunications services in Abuja,” the statement added.

The NCC also appealed to subscribers for patience and understanding during the period, assuring them of its continued resolve to deliver high-quality, reliable telecommunications services nationwide.

The team was received by Edmund Fianko, the acting director general, National Communications Authority (NCA), Ghana.

Both regulators shared insights on Quality of Service (QoS) monitoring, telecoms infrastructure protection, consumer protection, and cybersecurity.

The NCC team toured the NCA’s state-of-the-art Communications Monitoring Centre (CMC) & Common Platform, which tracks QoS & operator revenue in near real-time.

NCC also shared key milestones such as:

NIN-SIM linkage

Consumer satisfaction indices

Incident Reporting Platform

Tariff Simplification

Critical Infrastructure Protection

Both regulators agreed on the importance of knowledge sharing, technical cooperation, and joint efforts in monitoring telecom operators across their regions.

Photos from the NCC ‘s visit to NCA (Photo credit: x/@NgComCommission)

The firm said its primary mission is to use its expertise to nudge Nigerian MNOs (Mobile Network Operators) towards making the quality of their broadband networks as high as they could be.

“These networks are currently the main source of internet connectivity in Nigeria”, Engineer Remi Adeyeye, the president/CEO of Enext Wirelesss told Techeconomy.

“We continue to make NCC aware of our activities. Our primary mission is to use our knowledge and experience to nudge Nigerian MNOs towards making the quality of their broadband networks as high as they could be if the MNOs tried. These networks are currently the main source of internet connectivity in Nigeria.

“Our platform and related services can substantially improve the quality of mobile broadband networks and the experience of Nigerian users of those networks. By subscribing to our platform, MNOs, NCC, MSPs and other interested parties can make important contributions to the enhancement of the quality of mobile networks in Nigeria.

“We have been monitoring the networks since 2016. We have shared our findings with the MNOs. The goal has always been to improve the quality of experience of mobile broadband network subscribers in Nigeria.

“Since we started monitoring these networks we have seen networks so badly deployed that we stopped monitoring them.

“We shared our findings with the concerned operator who, two years later, confirmed that the poor quality was due to the fact that the network was still being deployed when we tested it. However, we subscribed to the service and paid for the data we used at that time.

“Our platform, named EMETRICS, helps to facilitate the deployment and continuous monitoring of high-quality mobile networks in Nigeria. It also allows the public to visualize mobile coverage quality at locations of interest as well as the likely throughput and packet latency at those locations.

The public can also contribute to the available throughput and packet latency records by running our speed test from the public visualization website HERE.

“Our platform allows MNOs to visualize the quality of their networks as seen by high quality end user equipment and use the data logged to enhance their quality.

“It facilitates the ability of mobile network equipment vendors to deploy high quality networks at much lower cost than ordinarily possible when relying on expensive logging and post-processing tools for necessary tests.

“The EMETRICS solution allows regulators to set practical thresholds for key performance indicators and independently verify efforts by MNOs to meet them”.

Adeyeye told Techeconomy that EMETRICS was specifically designed for the Nigerian market where the equipment and key engineering and deployment talents are often imported and focus on the experience of the ordinary end-user is minimal.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recently commenced a review of its Regulatory Instruments and licensing framework to ensure that they are in line with the current realities.

Dr. Aminu Maida, said the review of Quality of Service Regulations by the NCC will incorporate Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the fifth-generation technology (5G) and include KPIs for the Colocation Service Providers (TowerCos).

NCC’s key performance indicators (KPIs) for the quality of service (QoS) of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) networks in Nigeria cover Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Drop Call Rate (DCR), and Stand-alone Dedicated Channel (SDCCH).

This growth serves as a testament to the country’s progress in the realm of connectivity and economic development.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), continues to play a pivotal role as the regulator, placing paramount importance on ensuring the Quality of Service (QoS).

It is sad to note that QoS was an issue at the beginning. By beginning, we are talking of the licensing of GSM operators and commencement of service in 2001 (for convenience we’ll ignore the NITEL Years). QoS is still an issue today.

The Structures, Roles of Operators in the Nigerian Telecoms Sector

QoS, in essence, encapsulates a comprehensive set of measures and standards aimed at delivering consistent and top-notch telecommunications services to end-users. It’s not just about providing connectivity; it’s about ensuring reliability, network performance, data speed, and an overall seamless user experience.

The significance of QoS cannot be overstated. For consumers, it means experiencing uninterrupted connectivity, swift access to information, and seamless communication. Meeting these expectations directly influences customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Beyond consumers, businesses benefit immensely from superior QoS, gaining a competitive edge, retaining customers, and building a positive brand reputation. Conversely, subpar QoS can lead to customer dissatisfaction and loss, affecting both consumers and businesses alike.

Achieving superior QoS hinges on several key strategies. Continuous investment in robust infrastructure forms the backbone, ensuring reliable connections and network expansion. So far, over $76 billion has been invested in the sector in over 20 years.

With the country’s landmass and huge population, it is crystal that much more investment is required to boost QoS.

In addition, embracing cutting-edge technologies like 5G, AI, and IoT can further enhance speed, capacity, and network efficiency. Fortunately, operators are already working in these spheres.

The regulatory, NCC has a critical role to play in setting and enforcing QoS standards, ensuring service providers maintain a certain quality level. Experts concede that the regulator is doing what it can. It evidently is not enough.

So today, despite best efforts, challenges persist. Take network congestion. Network congestion during peak times poses a significant hurdle, necessitating innovative solutions like load balancing and network optimization.

Moreover, stringent security measures are essential to protect against cyber threats and safeguard user privacy, both integral components of reliable services.

There is also an urgent need for the protection of physical infrastructure and equipment. It is time to heed calls to classify telecommunications infrastructure across the country, as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI).

Telecommunications today are an indispensable asset in the quest for national development and economic growth, infrastructure that supports the provision of service must be kept safe.

Moving forward, collaboration among telcos, regulators, and tech providers is vital to setting and achieving QoS benchmarks while fostering innovation. Continuous evaluation, feedback mechanisms, and adaptation to emerging technologies are crucial in meeting evolving consumer needs.

In addition, establishing transparent reporting mechanisms and holding stakeholders accountable further enhances trust among consumers and regulators.

It is equally important to make it easier for operators to lay cables and connect our communities. The era of unbridled quest to rip off telcos in the name of “right of way” fees by state governors must stop. Telecommunications infrastructure benefits all of us, providing connections that enable socio-economic transformation. It improves the quality of life of citizens.

To the NCC, I will say this, the commitment to QoS should be more than a mere directive; it should be viewed for what it is – a fundamental necessity. Dr. Aminu Maida, the new Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, must take this to heart.

Undoubtedly, upholding high standards in telecommunications benefits consumers, businesses, and the industry at large. As technology advances and demands evolve, the pursuit of superior QoS remains crucial. It’s imperative to prioritize and elevate the quality of telecommunications services, and this endeavour requires a collective effort from all stakeholders.

After all, the purpose of a product or service is utility – the satisfaction it brings to the consumer.

Eromosele, a corporate communication professional and public affairs analyst, wrote via: elviseroms@gmail.com