Ncc Moves To Stop Arbitrary Charges By Telcos

SAN FRANCISCO, March 07, (THEWILL) – Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) has moved to stop arbitrary charges by telcos and boost broadband penetration in the country.

This will be achieved through the determination of cost-based pricing of fixed transmission services to service providers, which will create healthier competitiveness for them, where market forces, expectedly, will determine the prices of data for consumers.

To achieve this, the commission, on Monday, unveiled the result of a study conducted on assessment of the current level of competition in the telecoms industry, which would address arbitrariness and discriminatory pricing by service providers.

“The key objectives of this study is to develop a comprehensive cost model using data collated from operators in the transmission cable market and draw inferences on the cost of providing transmission services in Nigeria, and the transparency and competitiveness of the pricing in the transmission markets.” Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Secretary, NCC said:

Before now, most telecoms service providers charge arbitrarily for data provision due largely to the non-determination of cost-based pricing of fixed transmission services by the NCC. But the commission revealed that the conducted study would put paid to issue of arbitrariness in charges, thereby providing more room for broadband penetration by consumers, at better pricing.

Story by David Oputah