The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), recently directed all mobile network operators (MNOs) to commence the implementation of the approved harmonised short codes (HSCs) in order to provide specific services to telecom customers.
The commission said the new policy was in line with its consumer-centric approach to telecom regulation, according to a statement by Reuben Muoka, NCC’s director of public affairs.
NCC said the short codes include 300, to be used as the harmonised code for call centre/help desk on all mobile networks; 301 for voice mail deposit; 302 for voice mail retrieval; 303 for borrow services; 305 for stop service; 310 for check balance; and 311 for credit recharge.
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It also announced that the common code for data plan across networks is now 312; 321 is for share services, while 323 is for data plan balance.
The code, 2442, is retained for do-not-disturb (DND) unsolicited messaging complaint management, while 3232, is retained for porting services, also called mobile number portability.
According to the NCC, the deadline for the transition to the new set of codes is May 17th, 2023, signalling the end of the viability of the old short codes.
Consequently, customers of MNOs such as MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, and 9mobile, will now be able to use uniform short codes across all networks.
Short codes are numbers shorter than full numbers which can be used to address wireless short message service (SMS), multimedia messaging services (MMS), as well as voice services from mobile phones or fixed lines.
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Prior to the introduction of the HSCs, each operator was assigned short codes that are unique to them.
However, according to NCC, there was a need to address issues such as inadequate short code statistics, indiscriminate use of short codes, among others.
As such, the use of HSCs for accessing common services across all networks became necessary.
While announcing the implementation of the new HSCs, also known as common short codes, the commission said the initiative was aimed at making life easier for telecom consumers.
The commission added that it will now be easier for Nigerians to memorise single codes for various services across all mobile networks.
Ikechukwu Nnamani, president of Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), said the introduction of HSC will impact the sector positively, adding that the initiative has been in place in countries like Ghana for many years.
Regarding the drawbacks of HSCs, the ATCON president said there was a possibility of single point of failure, depending on the infrastructure used to implement the HSCs.
“As long as each operator has their own infrastructure to implement this, that risk will be eliminated,” he said.