Extend 30-Day Data Expiry Period, NCC Orders Telecom Operators

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Friday ordered all Telecoms Operators in the country to give a 14-day grace for subscribers to exhaust their remaining data after the 30 days expiration period.

Speaking during the Consumers Conversation Forum held in Minna, Niger state, Ms. Hellen Obi, who represented the Executive Vice Chairman NCC, Professor Umar Danbata, stated that the commission declared this year as consumer year as a result of their important in the industry.

The event was organised by the NCC to sensitise consumers on the need to follow the right channel in resolving issues with their service providers.

“NCC has mandated all network providers to give their subscribers 14 days of grace after the 30 days expiration of their data if they still have data left and cannot recharge to get their data rolled over,” she stated.

Obi declared 2017 as NCC Telecom Consumer year as a result of the consumer’s importance to the growth and development of the telecom industry.

She added: “The commission which is the independent regulatory authority for the telecommunications industry in Nigeria declared Year 2017 as NCC year of the telecom consumer in recognition of the importance of the consumer to the phenomenal growth and development in the telecoms sector.

“The year of telecom consumer, which was formally launched by NCC Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Danbata, is in tandem with the 8-point Agenda of the commission aimed to protect, educate, and empower consumers towards ensuring sustainable growth and further development in the Telecom sector.’’

Obi explained that the consumer conversation was designed to educate and inform consumers about their rights and privileges with their service providers.

The commission also articulated four strategic initiatives as key drivers of the Consumer Conversation including “Do-Not-Disturb” (DND) Service across all telecom networks, a service, which enables the consumer to stop receiving unwanted and unsolicited messages from telecom operators.