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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has raised concerns over the return of call masking activities in the telecommunications sector, warning that the fraudulent practice poses risks to industry integrity, security, revenue, and the orderly development of Nigeria’s communications ecosystem.
The NCC Board, at the weekend, reaffirmed the Commission’s zero-tolerance position on call masking, describing it as an unacceptable practice and a serious regulatory concern.
According to the Board, call masking undermines legitimate telecommunications operations, distorts industry revenues, and constitutes economic sabotage with potential consequences for the wider national economy.
“The Board reaffirmed the Commission’s resolve to collaborate with relevant security and law-enforcement agencies, as well as industry stakeholders, to identify, prevent and eliminate call masking activities,” the Commission said in a communique issued by the Office of the Commission Secretary.
NCC prepares to launch telecommunications identity platform
The Board disclosed that the Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS), alongside its associated business rules, is scheduled to go live in October 2026.
The platform is expected to strengthen the governance of telecommunications identities, including mobile numbers, while reducing risks linked to the misuse, reassignment, and recycling of such identities.
The Commission said the need for stronger identity governance has become more urgent as mobile numbers are increasingly connected to financial, social, and other digital services.
The Board also stressed that regulatory technology platforms must be deployed in ways that protect consumers, support legitimate digital services, improve market integrity, and comply with relevant legal, privacy, and data protection requirements.
NCC advances zero-rating initiative for educational platforms
The Board reviewed management’s engagement with industry operators and other stakeholders on the proposed framework for zero-rating educational platforms and content in Nigeria.
The initiative is designed to promote digital inclusion and improve students’ access to online educational resources. The Board commended the Federal Ministry of Education and other stakeholders for their contributions to the project.
According to the Board, the initiative is scheduled for official launch on September 10, 2026, while the go-live date is set for October 1, 2026. It also reaffirmed its intention to monitor the initiative’s implementation to ensure long-term sustainability.
Digital Bridge Institute repositioning under review
At its 110th meeting, the Board considered a report and recommendations on the proposed repositioning of the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), including the development of a strategic roadmap to improve its relevance and long-term sustainability.
The proposed exercise will follow a phased approach and involve two independent consultancies.
The first consultancy will conduct a comprehensive assessment of DBI’s structure, operations, human resources, and institutional position. The second will evaluate the commercial and legal viability of the proposed repositioning plan.
Network expansion reaches 70% of commitments
The Board also reviewed progress on commitments by mobile network operators to deploy additional infrastructure aimed at improving network coverage, capacity, and quality of experience.
It noted that 8,526 of the 12,179 coverage and capacity sites committed by operators have now been deployed nationwide, representing approximately 70% of the stated commitments. The figure marks an increase from the approximately 5,000 sites reported at the previous meeting.
However, the Board observed that fibre cuts contributed to a significant increase in network disruptions during June. It said the development demonstrated that infrastructure expansion must be accompanied by stronger protection of critical communications infrastructure.
The Commission therefore called for sustained attention to network resilience, service reliability, and the protection of telecommunications infrastructure.
Device Management System strengthens compliance
The Board further received an update on the Commission’s deployment of technology platforms intended to improve trust, security, and integrity across the telecommunications sector and the wider digital economy.
It noted that the Device Management System (DMS) is now operational and supporting stronger type approval compliance through technology.
The system is expected to improve the NCC’s ability to verify device compliance, limit the circulation of non-compliant devices, and support efforts to combat mobile device theft by enabling reported stolen devices to be blocked across Nigerian networks.
The meeting ended with the Commission reaffirming its commitment to transparency and regulatory measures that promote network resilience, digital trust, inclusive connectivity, consumer protection, fair competition, and the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s digital economy.
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