•NCC releases operational framework
Operators intending to play in the application-to-person (A2P) messaging ecosystem will need to pay N10 million for a five-year licence. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) made this known in the just-released new regulatory framework for A2P messaging services.
A2P messaging is a communication format in the telecommunications sector used to send short message services (SMS) or send notifications from an application directly to a recipient’s mobile phone.
In the 12-page document, the NCC explained that the term ‘application’ refers to any web or mobile application or an integrated SMS Application Programming Interface (API) on any platform. The ‘person’ refers to any user with an active cellular plan and an SMS-enabled mobile device.
A2P is initiated through the Internet, but the text messages are transmitted over mobile networks reaching recipients via their cellular connection. This form of messaging is predominantly used by businesses and organisations to deliver bulk promotional or transactional messages, such as marketing campaigns, appointment reminders, announcements, product advertisements, and order status updates.
The platform serves as a critical communication channel for citizens, businesses and governmental Institutions alike. With the new framework, the NCC planned to also sanitise the country’s fast-growing automated messaging space and plug revenue leakages in the telecoms sector.
The framework introduces a mandatory licensing regime for all businesses, telecom operators, and aggregators that deliver bulk messages from applications directly to consumers, such as bank alerts, promotional SMS, and other automated notifications.
The NCC in the document, mandated centralised routing for international A2P SMS, meaning such messages must pass through the NCC-approved channels to ensure compliance, prevent fraud, and guarantee the quality of service.
For emphasis, A2P messaging is a critical tool for banks, fintechs, airlines, hospitals, and even political campaigners, as it allows them to send timely and automated information to users.
It has, however, suffered a lack of formal regulation, which has led to a proliferation of spam messages, security vulnerabilities, and lost government revenue due to untracked international traffic.
“It has been observed that the excessive use of the Short Message Service has led to fraud, spam and illegal activities. The problem is likely to worsen as mobile connectivity and digital services continue to grow exponentially,” the NCC stated.
The introduction, according to NCC, is also targeted at protecting consumers from unsolicited messages, improving transparency in message delivery, and ensuring that players in the value chain – especially local telecom operators —earn their fair share from international traffic.
The Commission added that it would have better control over the International A2P SMS traffic, ensuring compliance with regulations and improving market oversight through the creation of a Single Platform.
Parts of the rules, according to the framework, are that licensees must comply with data protection and encryption standards, they must provide regular reports to the NCC, including traffic volumes and pricing data, they are required to interconnect with other licensees and must not block or discriminate against other operators.
The NCC prohibited the use of grey routes, unofficial or unauthorized channels used to deliver SMS, it added that only companies with a proven track record of ethical and secure operations will be considered for licensing.
Additionally, the framework supports Nigeria’s broader goals of digital sovereignty and cybersecurity by ensuring that sensitive communication data is not routed through unsafe or unmonitored international paths.
