NCC streamline aggregators to five, eyes 80% DND activations
This move, according to the NCC, which appreciated VAS providers’ contribution to the economy, is in effort to ensure better service, transparency and accountability.
There are plans by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), to streamline the size of content aggregators, which are mostly Value Added Service (VAS) providers in the country.
This move, according to the NCC, which appreciated VAS providers’ contribution to the economy, is in effort to ensure better service, transparency and accountability.
The Guardian checks showed that there are about 200 VAS licensed players under the auspices of the Wireless Application Service Providers of Nigeria (WASPAN).They have contributed over N300billion to the market since the revolution in the sector began some 16 years back.
Indeed, in an interaction with journalists in Lagos, NCC Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management (ECSM), Sunday Dare, revealed that the Commission is working on a framework that will streamline Aggregator licensees in the country to five, which should be out any time soon.
Dare said every content meant for telecoms consumers in the country would have to pass through the five aggregators, which will scrutinise and ensure the right messages get to the people.
According to him, this move is expected to improve quality of service (QoS); check influx of unsolicited SMS, and a host of others.Responding to questions on the menace of unsolicited SMS, deceptive marketing messages, unsolicited calls, Dare urged Nigerians to fully explore the avenue created by the Commission to stop the abuse.
According to him, since the declaration of 2017 as ‘Year of the Telecoms Consumer’, and the introduction of the Do-Not-Disturb platform, the code 2442, “we expect people to activate it and stop the influx of unsolicited SMS to their mobile phones.”
Dare, who disclosed that as at June, only about 6.7 million of the 147 million active subscribers have activated the DND code, said: “the Commission wants to see an awareness and activation level of about 80 per cent before the year ends.”
According to him, people are complaining that they still receive those unwanted messages because they have not activated the code.
However, some telecom subscribers are taking the fight beyond the NCC by following the initial directive of the commission to sue service providers for sending them unsolicited messages.
A telecoms expert, Kehinde Aluko, once said that the innumerable text messages to a subscriber without his consent at all times is a violation of his fundamental right to the privacy of his telephone conversations, correspondence and his person and telephone line and telephone message inbox.
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