MTN, Airtel, other telcos disconnect subscribers below 18 years

MTN Nigeria and other telecommunication operators in the country have stated disconnecting subscribers below 18 years as stipulated in the recent guidelines for SIM registration released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The telecom giant in its 2023 half-year financial report said the disconnection of underage subscribers in the second quarter of 2023 led to the plunge in its subscription database.

Two other mobile operators also confirmed that this is being done in line with the regulatory guidelines for SIM registration.

The disconnections explain why there has been a consistent decline in the country’s mobile subscriptions over the last three months.

Data released by the NCC showed that total active mobile subscriptions across the mobile networks declined by 1 million in April despite new activations. In May, active subscriptions further declined by 2.5 million.

The trend continued in June as the latest data released by the telecom regulator showed a further reduction in connected mobile lines by 1.2 million. This brought the total active mobile subscriptions in the country to 219.7 million at the end of June.

Explaining why it revised the age of acquiring a SIM upward from 16 to 18, NCC in a statement released when the regulation was first announced in October 2021 said it was aimed at protecting minors in the country.

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The Commission said this was also in accordance with the Nigerian constitution, which recognizes 18 as the age at which a Nigerian can enter a contractual relationship.

The Commission further explained that SIM acquisition is a contract between service providers and their subscribers, which requires the subscriber to have proper legal status, be of mature mind, and be rational enough to bear certain responsibilities, obligations, and liabilities imposed by a contract.

“The regulation is, therefore, to protect minors. Parents and guardians can acquire SIMs in their names on behalf of their children and wards in which case they assume whatever responsibilities or liabilities arise from the usage of such SIMs, a measure expected to also strengthen national security.

“While the Commission is progressively pursuing digital inclusion for all, the draft proposal is intended to guarantee increased monitoring of children and shield the minors from undue liabilities in line with NCC’s Child Online Protection drive,” the Commission stated.

Meanwhile, at a public inquiry on the regulation, which was a draft then, operators had pleaded with the NCC to reduce the age limit to 15 years to allow minors to acquire SIMs.

The operator recommended that the age limit for procuring communications services should be expanded to permit ages 15 and above.