Despite the extension window extended by the telecom
regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for subscribers to
still register their Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards during the
harmonization period yet undetermined, indications have emerged that confusion
is now trailing and threatening the entire process.
This follows the fact that some operators, supposedly
acclaimed big players but not leaders in the market are calling subscribers up
to say ‘Sorry sir, your SIM has not been registered.’
This is even when such subscribers have personally
registered their SIMs at the mobile operators’ office ever before the
commencement of NCC’s six month exercise that ended on September 28, this year.
Lamenting his ordeal, a subscriber of one of the operators
who seek anonymity, said he was surprised to be called upon by a customer care
that his line which he registered at the operator’s office along airport road,
was not registered.
He said, it took the customer care agent some times to
convince him by asking him to send REG to a given code, which would tell him if
his mobile line was registered on their data base or not.
According to him, when the exercise started, he took his
household who have come of age of using mobile phones and own some to visit each
of the operators in unionism to ensure that everyone got registered.
In fact, for him, it is surprising and really shocking to
note that only him has been singled out as who did not register his own SIM
cards.
He pointed out that on further probe, the customer care
agent was frank to tell him that there could be some probability that after he
registered the SIM and left that something went amaze and they don’t have the
guts to call such a customer back.
Our source said he was now directed to register his SIM
cards as soon as possible, although he is still under shock, he promised to
adhere to the instruction.
Investigations by ITRealms Online revealed that most
operators though not comfortable with the development and were not comfortable
to talk about it.
However, NCC a fortnight ago commenced the collation and
harmonization of all existing registered SIM cards nationwide with a window for
accommodating more subscribers to still register.
The National Assembly also requested NCC to extend the
duration of the SIM card registration.
This follows the end of a six-month countrywide SIM
registration exercise, which began on March 28, 2011 and came to a close on
September 28, this year.
Head, Media & Public Relations, NCC, Mr. Reuben Muoka,
who confirmed these development said that the registration exercise was
undertaken through NCC appointed SIM Registration consultants in each of the
six geopolitical zones, including Lagos; and the telecom service providers.
According to him, given the vast geographical spread of the
country, and the logistics involved in the registration exercise over the past
six months, there is need for proper harmonization of the data in line with the
specifications issued by the Commission.
He also said that the harmonization process would involve
the collation, reconciliation, cleaning, and consolidation of the captured data
into a central data infrastructure for efficient management of Nigeria’s
subscriber data base.
Commending the nation’s telecom subscribers for
participating actively in the SIM registration exercise, he noted that a new
window of opportunity is now open for those who have not yet registered their
SIM cards to do so within the limited period of the harmonization exercise.
This limited period, provides the last chance for all users
of existing SIM Cards to register as all unregistered SIM Cards will be
promptly disconnected without further notice at the conclusion of the
harmonization exercise.
The Commission is fully aware of the clamour by many
interested stakeholders, and stakeholder organizations, for extension of the
period for the registration of existing SIM Cards.
The Commission, he said, believes that the six months period
provided for the registration exercise, was ample time for all phone users in
the country to register their SIM Cards with either their service providers, or
the NCC appointed registration consultants.
“It is in deference to the clamour by the stakeholders, that
the Commission has provided this opportunity for all those who have not
registered on account of logistic challenges, to do so without any further
delay while the harmonization is ongoing,” he said.
As said by him within the limited period of the
harmonization exercise, service providers would be directed not to disconnect
any subscriber on account of the registration until the Commission announces
the completion of the process after which those who remain unregistered would
be disconnected.
“We commend all subscribers, who, in spite of some
challenges along the way, responded positively to this national call to duty,
by registering their SIM Cards. We also commend the service providers, and the
NCC appointed registration consultants for their commitment towards the success
of the SIM registration exercise,” he said.
Another telecom consumer, who gave his name as Joseph, said
he has received calls from his mobile operator, requesting him to go and
register his SIM as its currently not registered with the network, in spite of
the fact that he explained to the customer care agent that he had registered
the SIM with NCC’s accredited agents.
Joseph told ITRealms Online, he is confused on what to do,
as NCC has warned of double registration, just as he requested the agency to
call the mobile operators to order to avoid escalated panic.
Remmy Nweke
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Following the plea of the National
Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) and Association of
Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), the industry
regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) may have granted
deactivated subscribers over the non-registration of their SIM cards another
window to make amend.
