NCC Moves to Address Subscribers’ Complain on Data Depletion

Bukola Olanrewaju March 17, 2023 TECHNOLOGY, Telecom Leave a comment

In a bid to address incessant complaints of telecom consumers whose data is abnormally depleted, the telecoms regulator on Thursday held the 91st Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Telecom Consumer Parliament (TCP) in Abuja.

Tagged “Data depletion: Discussions on Various Perspectives”, the commission noted that data depletion was one of the most prevalent complaints received from telecom consumers.

The Executive Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer, NCC, Prof Umar Danbata said most of the complaints came as a result of the recent customer’s migration to 4G/LTE technology.

Click Here: Why Telecoms Consumers Experience Early Data Depletion, Rise in Data Usage – NCC

The EVC, who spoke through the Director, Licensing and Authorisation, Muhammed Babajika, noted that this edition came on the heels of the 90th edition in Lagos in June 2022, where the commission gathered industry players to discuss the theme “5G Technology: Opportunities and Challenges”.

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The Executive Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer, NCC, Prof Umar Danbata said most of the complaints came as a result of the recent customer’s migration to 4G/LTE technology.

In his speech, he said it is pertinent to know that whereas 4G offers better download speeds, higher bandwidth and voice quality than 3G technology, 5G technology provides the additional benefits of ultra-high speed data, low latency and higher bandwidth over 4G technology.

“It is therefore important that we completely appreciate and understand the issues surrounding data depletion, its usage and consumption in the era of 4G technology before we fully commence 5G usage.

According to the NCC boss, as much as the commission has an obligation to the telecom consumer, it also has an obligation to the industry; a symbiotic relationship in which one party cannot survive without the other.

“The consumers are the basis for the operator’s business. If their interests are ignored, the operator’s investments would collapse and there would be no industry for the commission to regulate.

Also Read: Consumer Protection: NCC Curbs Data Depletion, Wrong Airtime Deductions

“It is, thus, expedient that we utilise opportunities presented by the commission’s high-level outreach events such as this Parliament to genuinely exchange ideas on how to reduce the challenges militating against effective service provision to the barest minimum, he explained.

Speaking at the event, the Acting Secretary of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, Mr. Gbolahan Awonuga blamed the abnormal data depletion on technical and non-technical factors, noting that the upgrade from lower to higher networks by subscribers also contribute to higher data usage.

Also Read: NCC Empowers Subscribers with Information on Data Usage, Depletion

According Awonuga, sending and receiving mails, downloading and uploading large files, videos and pictures as well as documents contribute to higher data depletion.

He further listed browsing on internet, use of different social media platforms on regular basis, gaming, allowing background apps
to run unckecked as well as watching online videos.

As the commission moves to introduce measures to curb data depletion and ensure that telecom subscribers get value for their money, other speakers who spoke on the topic aligned with Awonuga and urged consumers to be conscious of their data usage and avoid soliciting for unnecessary services.