By Ken Dike

The NCC (Nigerian Communications Commission), in response to the falling quality of GSM network service in Nigeria recently imposed a fine on the various network service providers for their culpability and lackadaisical attitude in the provision of quality telecoms services in Nigeria.

The Nigerian Communications Act of 2003 clearly gives the NCC the responsibility of regulating the telecoms industry and ensuring that laid down rules and regulations are followed by the telecoms service providers and that an open market that promotes healthy competition is created in the industry in order to ensure a higher quality of service in the telecoms industry of Nigeria.

It is in keeping with this function that the NCC recently brought out the whip and imposed a fine totaling about $7.3 million on the four major mobile telephone service providers over the poor service in a nation that depends majorly on cellular phones for communication. The penalties hit Airtel, Etisalat, Globacom, and MTN. Etisalat and MTN are to pay $2.25 million apiece, while Airtel pays $1.68 million and Globacom faces a $1.125 million fine.

Seeing as it will be difficult to give the money back to subscribers who have been short-changed by these network service providers as it will be difficult to determine how badly each subscriber has been wronged, and in order for the money to be properly utilized, it should be kept and expended on the provision of telecoms service and in furthering the cause of proper telecoms and ICT infrastructure, facilities and equipment.

The money, in the opinion of this writer, should be used in ensuring that a favorable environment is created for the growth and development of the telecoms and ICT industry in order for facilities to be put in place to ensure the availability of telecoms and ICT products and services to the Nigerian populace at reasonable and affordable costs.

The money should also be used to encourage availability of telecommunication and ICT services to yet unreached and undeserved areas of the country. This money should be used to ensure that these yet to be covered areas are covered and that telecommunication and ICT services are made available and affordable to all citizens of the country.

Measures are also expected to be put in place to ensure that youths are encouraged to contribute to national development through innovations backed by access to quality telecoms and ICT facilities. With this money, facilities should be provided in primary and secondary schools to ensure that ICT knowledge is instilled in the youth and in the upcoming generation in order to help in building a knowledge based economy.

Also, part of the money can be used by the NCC to maintain a balanced market, promote healthy competition amongst the players, and expand network coverage so as to ensure that unreached places are connected to the grid.

The money can also be spent on advertising campaigns and sensitization of the general public on the need for them to be alert and report any network service provider that has been observed to have cut corners in the provision of acceptable service to them.

Dike wrote in from Onitsha