Nigeria’s Communications Regulator Warns of Apparent Network Congestions

APA - Lagos (Nigeria) The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr Ernest Ndukwe, has warned telecommunications operators across Nigeria to optimise their networks in order to cope with the volume of traffic that will be generated during the festive seasons.

Ndukwe said in a statement on Monday in Abuja that "during festive seasons when there are lots of goodwill messages, there are usually challenges for networks not only in Nigeria but in other parts of the world to cope with the volume of traffic".

Ndukwe stressed that the Commission was not prepared to entertain the usual deluge of complaints concerning network congestion and "expects operators to have anticipated the rise in traffic and do something about it".

"We have taken steps to sensitise the network operators to do what is right and manage effectively the increase in traffic that may occur at this time," he said.

He observed that already complaints are reaching the Commission concerning quality of service on the South AfricaÃ's MTN and Nigerian operator, Globacom networks.

According to him, some of the complaints have to do with on-net calls.

While asking the concerned operators to do something urgently, Ndukwe said: "this is Christmas season, a time when a lot of people are going to be needing communication networks to send messages to their loved ones. It will not be right for operators to spoil their joy"

Ndukwe reiterated that sanctions would be visited on erring operators whose network quality continues to fall below the accepted quality threshold and insisted that "operators must ensure that the situation is put under control otherwise we could impose more sanctions including a ban on promos."

Ndukwe has encouraged subscribers in the country to do more of SMS this yuletide season than voice in order to reduce congestion since voice calls would easily lead to congestion,

"SMS has become the most dependable as messages get through no matter the situation. In most developed parts of the world, including countries in the developing world, SMS has proved very useful and reliable," he said.

Posted to the site on 22nd December 2008