NCC Moves To Block Fake Phones, Modems, PoS Terminals From Telecom Networks

The commission says the initiative will strengthen device authentication, protect consumers and improve network reliability, insisting that users’ personal information will not be accessed.

The Nigerian Communications Commission has commenced electronic verification of SIM-enabled devices to identify and prevent fake, cloned and non-compliant phones, modems, tablets and Point-of-Sale terminals from connecting to telecommunications networks in Nigeria.

The commission said the initiative was designed to strengthen regulatory oversight, improve network performance and protect consumers from substandard telecommunications equipment.

The Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity at the NCC, Edoyemi Ogoh, disclosed this on Tuesday during a news conference on the commission’s technical standards and network integrity initiatives in Abuja.

Ogoh explained that the enhanced compliance framework would enable the commission to verify devices against its type approval requirements before they are permitted to operate on Nigerian telecommunications networks.

Type approval is the regulatory process through which the NCC certifies that telecommunications equipment meets prescribed technical standards before it is sold or used in the country.

According to him, the commission has put measures in place to ensure that devices already in stock are properly registered under the framework, while equipment imported into the country in the future will undergo the necessary verification and authentication.

“We have also ensured that devices currently in stock are appropriately onboarded and that devices imported into Nigeria going forward are properly verified and authenticated,” he said.

He added, “This will provide a more effective mechanism for identifying non-compliant, cloned, or fake devices and prevent them from connecting to our networks.”

The initiative follows the issuance of the NCC’s Type Approval Business Rules in August 2024 and subsequent consultations with original equipment manufacturers, importers, dealers, telecommunications operators, government agencies and industry associations.

Ogoh said the commission had also collaborated with the Nigeria Customs Service and other stakeholders across the device supply chain to facilitate the implementation of the framework.

He cited Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, which requires communications equipment intended for sale or use in Nigeria to obtain type approval from the commission.

The director explained that enforcing the requirement would help ensure that devices operating on Nigerian networks comply with established technical standards and remain compatible with telecommunications infrastructure.

He urged Nigerians to verify the approval status of electronic devices before purchasing them, advising buyers to ask sellers whether their phones, tablets, modems, PoS terminals and other SIM-enabled equipment had received the necessary NCC certification.

Ogoh warned that non-compliant devices could undermine network performance and complicate regulatory oversight, stressing that effective enforcement would protect consumers and improve the reliability of telecommunications services.

He added that the framework was intended to build public confidence in devices available in the Nigerian market while ensuring that manufacturers, importers and dealers complied with applicable regulations.

Addressing concerns about privacy, Ogoh assured Nigerians that the electronic verification system would not give the commission access to personal information stored on their devices.

He said the framework was strictly designed to identify devices and verify their regulatory compliance, rather than monitor users or their communications.

According to him, the system retains device identification information, including International Mobile Equipment Identity numbers, commonly known as IMEI numbers, for regulatory purposes.

“The objective of the initiative is regulatory compliance relating to communications devices. It is not a surveillance tool and does not provide access to personal information stored on devices,” he said.

He further clarified that the framework would not enable the commission to access users’ photographs, text messages, contacts, financial information or the contents of their communications.

The clarification comes as the commission moves to tighten compliance with technical standards governing telecommunications equipment sold and used in Nigeria.

Ogoh said the NCC would sustain public awareness campaigns and engagement with industry stakeholders to educate consumers and businesses about the initiative and their respective responsibilities.

He stressed that successful implementation would require cooperation among government agencies, telecommunications operators, manufacturers, dealers, consumer groups and the media.

The director reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to strengthening technical standards, improving network integrity and protecting consumers as Nigeria’s telecommunications industry continues to expand.

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