NCC Mandates Airtime Compensation for Poor Network Service
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to compensate subscribers with airtime credits when network quality falls below specified targets in affected Local Government Areas. According to a statement on Sunday, the compensation will be calculated based on subscribers' average spending patterns and their presence in areas where service failures occur. This policy shifts the financial burden of disruptions from consumers to operators, reinforcing a consumer-centric regulatory approach.
The directive also affects Tower Companies, requiring them to invest regulatory fines into infrastructure upgrades with measurable outcomes. The NCC emphasizes that poor service harms productivity, commerce, and digital inclusion, and this measure complements ongoing QoS monitoring and enforcement efforts.
However, the NCC has not yet released the specific Quality of Service Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), compensation formulas, or implementation timelines. Subscribers should monitor network performance, document outages with dates and locations, and await detailed guidelines from the commission.
Will you proactively track your service quality and potential eligibility for compensation, or rely on operators to automatically identify and credit affected customers?