The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called for the support of telecoms consumers to ensure improved telecoms service delivery in their communities.

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, made the call at the second edition of the Village Square Dialogue (VSD), one of the commission’s consumer outreach programmes.

The event, held recently at Danbatta Local Government Area of Kano State was themed, ‘Protection of Telecom Infrastructure for Improved Quality of Service: The Role of Residents’.

Addressing telecoms consumers and traditional rulers at the event, Danbatta, who was represented by NCC’s Director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Bako Wakil, said to ensure improved telecom service delivery, a community must protect telecom infrastructure in its vicinity by allowing the installations of equipment and maintenance or repairs on sites by technical staff of service providers.

Danbatta further enjoined the general public to guide against the destruction of telecoms infrastructure, through prompt notification of service providers of any ongoing road construction activities by companies or government agencies to avoid service disruption that may arise from damaged infrastructure.

According to the NCC boss, protecting telecom infrastructure is very important in any community, as the ability to connect and communicate is fundamental to human existence considering its centrality in improving businesses, government services, education, communities and families to share information through seamless connections.

He also highlighted that technological advances have assisted people to gain access to learning opportunities outside traditional schooling.

“Today, you simply need a computer, smartphone, and the internet connection to do so many things and telecom infrastructure in your communities provides the critical facilities that support Internet access to these devices and therefore, you are expected to protect the infrastructure,” he said.

Danbatta noted that vandalism of telecom infrastructure has a great negative impact on the community as its reduces coverage area, leading to ‘dead spots’ on the network which result in poor quality of service (QoS) and quality of experience (QoE) by the consumers.

He added that the destruction of telecom infrastructure discourages investment in network expansion by operators.

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He noted that the protection of telecom infrastructure, helps in creating jobs, promoting e-commerce, assisting farmers in the villages to connect with potential buyers in the cities, as well as enhancing connectivity through which citizens in both rural and urban areas are able to harvest their potentials, access information, and engage in social interactions among others.

“Therefore, as a community, you are expected to report cases of telecoms infrastructure vandalism to the nearest law enforcement agents such as the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and share adequate information received from NCC with your family, friends, neighbours.

“We believe that together with your cooperation as critical stakeholders in the telecoms sector, we can all work with the law enforcement authorities in protecting telecom infrastructure in your community,” he added.

While reiterating the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that the telecoms consumer is protected, well informed, empowered and educated on telecoms-related issues, Danbatta reminded the participants of the availability of the NCC’s toll-free number, 622, for resolving telecom service-related complaints; the Emergency Number 112 to get succour during emergencies; the 2442 Do –Not-Disturb Short Code for managing cases of unsolicited text messages, among others.

The NCC boss further enjoined the participants to leverage the various social media and web portals of the commission to lodge complaints for effective and satisfactory resolutions.

Danbatta said: “One of the NCC’s core mandates is to ensure that the consumer is the main focus of the Commission’s regulatory activities.

“This is why Section 104 of the Nigerian Communications (NCA) 2003 mandates the NCC to ensure that service providers meet such minimum standards of QoS as the Commission may, from time to time, specify and publish; deal reasonably with consumers; and adequately address consumer complaints.”

The Star