The Foremost Telecom Activist – Hon Prince (Amb) Sina Bilesanmi aka Ojueko National President Association of Telephone Cable Tv & Internet Subscribers of Nigeria, the leading masses advocacy body that promote Subscriber interests as well as defends Subscriber right also promoting Network Services Provider through their Products & Services that must be endorses by ATCIS for Telecom Subscriber member’s in Nigeria, according to ATCIS constitution to over 198 million active Subscribers membership strength across 36 States within the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
Hon Sina Bilesanmi addressing FG, MNO &Telecom Subscribers members on Friday at Abuja on the issue of 40% hike “ATCIS warn FG, NCC & ALTON that’s Association of Telephone, Cable Tv & Internet Subscribers of Nigeria we roll back Lockdown Nigeria Telecom’s Economy that occurred 2016 again if you allow hike to happen, If there’s need to carry a play card telecom Subscribers across 36 States with over 178 million within six geopolitical zone we will Do So.
We says NO to 40% INCREASE by ALTON” Association of Telephone, Cable Tv & Internet Subscribers of Nigeria, have scored Telecommunication companies under the aegis of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria F9 say’s by Hon Sina Bilesanmi, Telecom Subscriber National President reasons because the history is there for ATCIS-Nigeria only Telecom Subscriber advocacy body in December 10 to14, 2015 and November 30, 2016 Mobile Network Operator’s (MNO) makes move then but our association body ATCIS was a major voice against MNO move to indiscriminately raise 60% tariff when ATCIS Say No by Saved Nigerian Subscribers trillion of Naira from Telecom Service Providers, captured by News Agency of Nigeria, ATCIS fault Nigerian Communication Commission then over increase in cost of data by internet provider by the Punch Newspaper.
Hon Sina Bilesanmi said that for Telecommunication companies under Association Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) letter to Nigerian Communication Commission last week of April, 2022 without our notice as a major stakeholder but NCC get across to us for our association submition in which Association of Telephone, Cable Tv & Internet Subscribers of Nigeria, says capital No because Why now? ATCIS aren’t aware and it can work, No Stakeholder meeting before written to NCC. Bilesanmi said as Subscribers aren’t enjoy quality service from them, No value for our money, Nigeria MNO aren’t up to international standard of practices etc.
Association of Telephone Cable Tv & Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS) in their own latter want Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) to mental the cordial relationship we both built-in upon during ATCIS Visitation to NCC at Abuja office dated March 10, 2020. Association of Telephone Cable Tv & Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS) thanks Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for rejected the request by MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9moble and other telecom operators for an upward review of tariff. Recall that telecom providers under the aegis of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) had written to the NCC seeking an upward review of voice calls, SMS and data cost tariffs by 40 per cent due to the high cost of operations.
However, rejecting the request in a statement at the meeting, the NCC noted that any such decision must be fair to the subscribers and engender healthy competition among services providers.
The regulator in the statement by its Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, said there is no cause for alarm as it did not approve any increase, adding that it remained committed to international best practices and established procedures in its regulatory activities in the country.
Adinde maintained that any tariff increase by telecoms service providers must be approved by the commission guided by regular cost-based and empirical studies to determine the appropriate cost to be adopted by the service providers.
According to him, the commission received the request letter from ALTON about the proposed increase but stated that any decision in that regard must be fair enough to the subscribers and engender healthy competition among services providers.
Part of the statement reads, “Consistent with international best practice and established regulatory procedures, the NCC ensures its regulatory activities are guided by regular cost-based and empirical studies to determine the appropriate cost (upper and floor price) within which service providers are allowed to charge their subscribers for services delivered.
“The commission ensures that any cost determined, as an outcome of such transparent studies is fair enough to enhance healthy competition among operators, provide wider choices for the subscribers as well as ensure the sustainability of the Nigerian telecoms industry.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, and contrary to MNOs’ agitation to increase tariffs for voice and Short Messaging Services (SMS) by a certain percentage, the commission wishes to categorically inform telecoms subscribers and allay the fears of Nigerians that no tariff increase will be effected by the operators without due regulatory approval by the commission.
“It is noteworthy that tariff regulations and determinations are made by the commission in line with the provisions of Sections 4, 90, and 92 of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, which entrusts the commission with the protection and promotion of the interests of subscribers against unfair practices including but not limited to; matters relating to tariffs and charges.”
It pointed out that the current tariff regime administered by the service providers is a product of NCC’s decision both for voice and SMS.
It however added that “while there could be justifiable reasons for MNOs’ demand for tariff increase, it should be noted that they are not allowed to do such either individually or collectively without recourse to NCC, following the outcome of a cost study. This is not the case for now.
“Through NCC’s commitment to engendering healthy competition among the licensees, the cost of services has been democratised and become more and more affordable for Nigerian subscribers. The regulator is even more committed to this cause to ensure subscribers get greater value for money spent on telecom services.”
Last month, ALTON wrote a letter to the NCC, the telecoms industry regulator, calling for an upward review of the cost of telecoms services. The operators urged the NCC to consider the move for an upward review of the cost of SMS from N4 to N5.61k and voice call termination rate from N6.40k per minute to N8.95k per minute.
The operators said the move to increase the cost of telecom services became necessary due to the high cost of delivering telecoms services across networks, coupled with the harsh business environment and the continuous rise in the cost of various items in various sectors of the Nigeria economy. Sina Bilesanmi said for records propose let all telephone Subscribers always checking their charge rate after making call your rate call is per second multiple times total number gives you, because our Mobile Network Service can be funny
Association of Telephone Cable Tv & Internet Subscribers of Nigeria(ATCIS) through their National President Hon Prince Amb. Sina Bilesanmi have Demand for Free Call Day on every 1st of October to all telecom Subscribers in Nigeria, No 40% INCREASE on CALL, SMS, DATA & Data roll over on our internet and still on Cable Tv Operator says he has promise Nigerian Subscribers No going back on Pay Per View ATCIS-Nigeria is stand on Cable Tv Operator’s that they should introduce and Implemente Pay Per View.
Association of Telephone, Cable Tv & Internet Subscribers of Nigeria has made several impact history in what people believe it can’t possible with over 784 newspaper publications, both local and international as well as online news publications, Radio and National Television Station Interviews with about 262 Success achievements so far to the benefit of every Subscribers across the country Nigeria. On advocacy alone ATCIS-Nigeria has spent about N502 million naira according to financial records since 2014 till to date, which has been on self-sponsored by Subscriber members without government agency’s in Nigeria.
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