October 06, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has placed a ban on Nigerians below age 18 registering and owning Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs) cards for phone and data access.
However, stakeholders have kicked against the regulation, pointing out it would shrink the telephone consumer market, and create a problem with retrieving or deactivating SIM cards already owned by newly disqualified subscribers.
Industry players and telecommunications firms have said if the new rule must become mandatory, the commission should peg phone access limit at 14 years.
The NCC made the announcement during a Public Inquiry on the Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations, alongside the draft SIM Replacement Guidelines and the draft Spectrum Trading Guidelines
The event was held at the NCC’s head office in Abuja on Tuesday October 5.
According to a draft copy of the modified Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations on the commission’s website, the NCC indicated that the regulations were formulated in line with its powers accruing from Section 70 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
NCC’s Executive Commissioner (Stakeholders’ Management), Mr Adeleke Adewolu told the forum: “The public inquiry is an avenue that enables the commission to develop and review its regulatory instruments by incorporating the comments and suggestions of industry stakeholders.”
