Hamisu Muhammad
23 February 2009
March 15 is the deadline for all cyber cafe operators and internet service providers in the country to register with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) or face wrath of the commission.
The NCC gave the deadline in a notice it published last week, titled: Final Warning to Illegal Telecom Operators and Service Providers which stated that "the decision is necessary in order to curb cyber crimes and bring sanity to the telecom sector".
The noticed signed by the Executive Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Ernest Ndukwe said it served as final warning to all unlicensed telecommunication operators/service providers to obtain the required licenses on or before March 15th, 2009.
The commission boss said " inline with its mandate to promote a vibrant telecommunications industry as well as improving access and penetration of telecommunication services in the country, the commission had earlier simplified the process for the regularization of the operations of cyber cafe, sales and installation of terminals equipment, payphone, repairs and maintenance".
"These categories of services providers are only required to obtain a class licence from the commission at the cost of N10,000 only"
According to him the commission embarked on constant nationwide monitoring of all telecommunications services providers/ network operators. Emphasis will laid on monitoring of cyber cafes and internet service providers (ISP) as this era of global curbing of cyber crimes is critical to the maintenance of order and sanity in the telecom sector of our national economy.
He explained that sanction that will be taken against defaulters which include shutting down of their operations, confiscation of equipment and prosecution.
He said the Commission is empowered by Nigerian Communication Act 2003 to licence all Companies that undertake telecommunic-ations business in Nigeria.
He noted that despite various appeals to companies, some have failed to regularize their operations by obtaining the required licenses.
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