NCC backs fair competition to improve telecom services, consumer choice [VIDEO]

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting fair competition in the telecommunications industry, saying evidence-based research will guide regulatory decisions and help protect consumers.

Omotayo Mohammed, Head of Competition and Tariffs at the NCC, stated this at the Commission’s second Stakeholders Engagement Forum in Lagos.

Mohammed said the regulator was committed to ensuring a competitive telecommunications market where operators of different sizes could participate fairly and consumers benefit from improved services and wider choices.

She emphasised that smaller telecommunications operators were as important to the industry as larger players, noting that effective competition was essential to sustaining a healthy market.

According to her, evidence-based studies would provide the Commission with the information needed to assess market conditions and make informed decisions on competition and tariffs.

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Mohammed also highlighted ongoing studies relating to mobile termination rates and value-added services, areas that could influence competition and the delivery of telecommunications services.

Mobile termination rates are charges operators pay one another for connecting calls across different networks, while value-added services include additional offerings such as subscription-based information, entertainment and other digital services.

The NCC’s focus on these areas reflects the importance of reviewing industry practices and market conditions to ensure that competition remains fair and consumers receive value for money.

However, Mohammed did not announce an immediate reduction in telecommunications tariffs or unveil any specific new regulatory measures at the forum.

The engagement provided an opportunity for industry stakeholders to discuss competition-related issues and the role of evidence-based regulation in strengthening Nigeria’s telecommunications market.

The Commission’s position underscores its stated commitment to balancing the interests of operators with the need to improve service quality, expand consumer choice and sustain competition across the sector.