In furtherance of its mandate to ensure that communications devices imported, sold and used in Nigeria meet applicable technical and regulatory standards, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is strengthening the monitoring and enforcement of its Type Approval requirements through a technology enabled framework.
Type Approval is a mandatory regulatory process used by the regulator to certify that communication devices are safe, high-quality, and fit for use in Nigeria before they are sold or deployed in the country.
According to a statement signed by the director of Public Affairs, Mrs Nnenna Ukoha, the initiative is intended to make Type Approval compliance more efficient, consistent, and effective by enabling the Commission to electronically determine Type Approval compliance of SIM enabled devices.
The Device Management System (DMS) will serve as the technology platform supporting this automated compliance framework, allowing the commission to improve oversight of the device ecosystem.
Under Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, licensed service and facilities providers, equipment manufacturers and suppliers are required to obtain Type Approval from the commission before communications equipment may be sold or used in Nigeria.
The implementation of the DMS supports the commission’s efforts to strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s communications device ecosystem by improving compliance with applicable technical and regulatory standards, enhancing network performance, facilitating the identification of non-compliant devices, and strengthening consumer confidence in devices sold and used in Nigeria.
The commission has commenced the first phase of implementing the automated Type Approval compliance framework and is working closely with critical stakeholders, including the Nigeria Customs Service, Original Equipment Manufacturers, OEMs, importers and relevant market associations.
This phase focuses on onboarding existing devices currently held in stock and ensuring that devices imported into the country, going forward, are appropriately registered and authenticated, providing the commission with a more effective mechanism for identifying non-compliant and illegally imported devices before they enter widespread use.
