The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has mentioned it’s placing measures in place to be certain that small gamers within the Nigerian telecommunications trade are protected.
To obtain this, the Commission mentioned it will use evidence-based assessments to promote truthful competitors and guarantee smaller telecommunications operators usually are not deprived.
Dr Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC mentioned this whereas talking on the Second Stakeholder Engagement Forum on the Study of the Level of Competition within the Nigerian Telecommunications Industry on Wednesday in Lagos.
The transfer comes amid longstanding complaints by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) over the rising dominance of cellular community operators resembling MTN, Airtel, Globacom and T2, particularly within the web provisioning market.
NCC targets evidence-based rules
Maida, who was represented by Mrs Omotayo Mohammed, Head of Competition and Tariff Unit on the NCC mentioned the research would offer proof for acceptable regulatory choices and assist establish boundaries to efficient competitors.
- “The focus of the commission is therefore on ensuring that market power does not undermine effective competition,” Maida mentioned.
He defined that vital market energy (SMP) standing alone didn’t set up anti-competitive behaviour, noting that market dominance may consequence from sustained funding, innovation and industrial success.
- Maida highlighted that regulatory interventions had been mandatory, proportionate and focused at preserving competitors, encouraging funding, innovation, enhancing service high quality and client worth.
- He recalled that the fee’s first stakeholder discussion board, held in January, outlined the research’s targets, scope and proposed methodology, permitting trade contributors to share their views on aggressive circumstances.
According to him, contributions from the preliminary engagement helped refine the research’s strategy, establish related market points and strengthen the evidence-gathering course of. Maida defined that the preliminary findings had been largely based mostly on responses to surveys and requests for data circulated to licensees and different related stakeholders.
NCC says small operators are necessary
Speaking with newsmen in her capability, Omotayo Mohammed mentioned the Commission desires the small operators to exist and function optimally as the large operators.
- “Being a small operator shouldn’t in itself be a drawback to thriving within the trade. And so, measures that we’re taking will likely be based mostly on what we obtain, the data we obtain, the evaluation of that data, the understanding of market dynamics and the truth that we at all times need shoppers to get the perfect when it comes to providers, when it comes to selection, in addition to to encourage progress within the trade.
- “The smaller players are just as important as the larger players for the NCC,” she mentioned.
According to Mohammed, research like the present one assist the Commission to receive the proof wanted to make acceptable regulatory choices.
NCC engages PwC for research
Early this yr, Nairametrics reported that the NCC had engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to perform a complete assessment of competitors in Nigeria’s telecommunications trade, as considerations develop over market dominance and the sustainability of truthful competitors.
At the time, the Commission mentioned the research was designed to validate present competitors insurance policies in opposition to present market realities, following vital structural and technological modifications throughout the trade.
Several trade gamers, together with the Association of Telecommunications Company of Nigeria (ATCON) President, Mr. Tony Emoekpere, had expressed considerations over the dominance of cellular operators within the trade.
Speaking with Nairametrics not too long ago on the declining customers of ISPs, Mr. Emoekpere mentioned the competitors between the small and the large gamers was exacerbated the current moves by cellular community operators into Fiber to the Home (FTTH) service, the terrain the place solely core ISPs had been enjoying, is an element.
