Data War: ALTON insists on NCC clarification, petition not intended to lock horns - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), has insisted on clarifications from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over the looming data war influenced by the alleged several attempts by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to regulate telecommunications in the country, reports ITREALMS.

In an earlier response, NITDA had detailed a three-page statement over the allegations, outlining its legality under the NITDA Act and Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) among others, assuring stakeholders of ongoing synergy between NITDA and other regulatory agencies of government.

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But in a follow up, ALTON insisted that despite all NITDA said, the organizational membership has been thrown into confusion and must get guidance from NCC more so since it has been petitioned.

“We wrote to the NCC for clarity because we are confused with the new regulations,” the Executive Secretary, Gbolahan Awonuga told ITREALMS.

Stressing that communication sector can no longer be at the receiving end all the time and their petition was for clarity from NCC and not setting agencies against each other.

He decried that the industry already have enough running battle on data and local content with NCC then comes NITDA, which majority of ALTON members know the end result.

“SANCTIONS! Already there are huge interconnect debts to be settled. Issue of multiple taxation is there. We want to connect the unconnected without affordable right of way and dependable infrastructure. We must face these challenges first if we need seamless broadband and internet of things. Power issues are there. Power batteries being stolen on daily basis, security men manning BTS sites killed before yanking off powered generator sets (not l better pass my neighbour) but massive one with hayabb truck,” he bemoaned.

Pointing out that ALTON has no short term benefit to gain in its initial letter to NCC as far as this issue is concerned, but rather a long and enduring benefits for it members.

“We are not political nor any of our members seeking government appointments but the interest of our members. We have worked with NITDA where necessary before and will continue to work with the agency,” ALTON Executive Secretary maintained.

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He contended that they wrote to the NCC for clarity because they were confused with the new regulations.

“Our members are responsible corporate citizens of Nigeria and natural partners in progress. We await our regulator response,” ALTON submitted.

Chuks Egbune/Editor

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