NCC Orders Registration Of All SIM-Enabled Devices

The Nigerian Communications Commission has launched an automated system requiring all SIM-enabled communications devices entering Nigeria to be registered and authenticated before they can be sold or connected to local mobile networks.

The new framework is designed to clamp down on illegally imported and technically non-compliant devices by creating a central database of equipment operating in Nigeria through their International Mobile Equipment Identity numbers.

The NCC said the system would also make it possible to identify and block stolen devices across Nigerian networks, even where users attempt to bypass restrictions by changing the SIM cards in such devices.

The regulator said the initiative would not give it access to subscribers’ personal information, device content or private communications, stressing that the system is strictly for device identification and Type Approval compliance.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has launched a new technology-driven system that will effectively bar unregistered SIM-enabled communications devices from connecting to Nigerian mobile networks, in a major move to curb illegal imports, non-compliant equipment and the circulation of stolen devices.

Under the new framework, all devices capable of using SIM cards must be registered and authenticated before they can be sold in the Nigerian market.

The NCC said any device that has not been duly registered will not be permitted to operate on Nigerian telecommunications networks.

A statement signed on Wednesday by NCC Director of Public Affairs, Nnenna Ukoha, said the initiative will establish a central database of communications devices operating in the country and strengthen enforcement of its Type Approval regulations.

Type Approval is the regulatory process through which the NCC ensures that communications equipment imported, marketed or used in Nigeria complies with prescribed technical, operational and safety standards.

The commission said the new framework would automate the process of determining whether SIM-enabled devices comply with the applicable Type Approval requirements, giving it greater visibility and control over equipment entering and operating in the Nigerian telecommunications market.

A major component of the initiative is the Device Management System (DMS), which the NCC said would provide the infrastructure for automated compliance checks.

“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 NCC said.

The commission explained that the system would strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s device ecosystem, improve compliance with technical standards, support better network performance and make it easier to identify equipment that fails to meet regulatory requirements.

The initiative is anchored on Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, which requires licensed service and facilities providers, equipment manufacturers and suppliers to obtain NCC Type Approval before communications equipment can be sold or used in Nigeria.

The commission said it had already commenced the first phase of the automated compliance programme in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), importers and relevant market associations.

The initial phase will involve the registration of devices already in stock, while newly imported equipment will be required to undergo registration and authentication before being introduced into the Nigerian market.

Central IMEI Register

The NCC’s Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Edoyemi Ogoh, said the Type Approval Business Rules issued in August 2024 provided the regulatory foundation for the creation of a Central Equipment Identity Register.

The register will contain information on SIM-enabled communications devices in Nigeria using their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers.

Ogoh said the commission undertook extensive consultations with stakeholders and conducted market studies following the issuance of the 2024 rules, leading to the design and deployment of the new system.

“Following the issuance of the Rules, the Commission commenced extensive stakeholder engagements and market studies, which informed the eventual design and deployment of the system”, he said.

According to him, the establishment of a central IMEI database would enable the NCC to determine whether devices entering and operating in Nigeria meet the required standards.

“By establishing a central registry of the International Mobile Equipment Identity numbers of devices in Nigeria, the Commission will be better positioned to ensure effective and efficient compliance with its Type Approval requirements and to ensure that devices imported into, sold and used in Nigeria meet the applicable standards”, Ogoh added.

He stressed that registration would now be mandatory for SIM-enabled communications devices entering the Nigerian market.

“With the deployment of this system, all SIM-enabled communications devices brought into the country must be registered before they are sold. Devices that are not duly registered will not be permitted to operate on Nigerian networks”, he said.

The framework is expected to cover mobile phones and other communications equipment capable of operating with SIM cards, particularly equipment entering the country through unofficial, illegal or non-compliant channels.

Stolen Devices Targeted

Beyond Type Approval enforcement, the NCC said the system would also address problems associated with stolen communications devices.

Ogoh said the technology would make illegally imported and non-compliant equipment easier to identify, while devices reported stolen could be blocked from operating on Nigerian mobile networks.

“Beyond improving Type Approval compliance, the technology will help address some of the wider challenges associated with the device market. Illegally imported and non-compliant devices will be easier to identify, while devices reported stolen can be blocked from use across Nigerian mobile networks”, he stated.

The use of IMEI numbers means that restrictions can remain attached to the device itself rather than the subscriber’s SIM card.

Consequently, changing the SIM card in a blocked device would not necessarily enable the equipment to reconnect to participating Nigerian mobile networks.

The initiative could therefore provide regulators, law enforcement agencies and network operators with a stronger mechanism for tackling the movement and resale of stolen phones and other SIM-enabled devices.

The commission also sought to address concerns that the creation of a central database could give the regulator access to private information stored on subscribers’ devices.

Ogoh said the platform was designed strictly for device identification and Type Approval compliance. He explained that the system would store identification information, including IMEI numbers, but would not give the NCC access to personal information or content stored on subscribers’ devices.

He also stressed that the platform would not enable the commission to monitor subscribers’ private communications.

The NCC said the new automated compliance system would ultimately improve consumer confidence in communications devices sold in Nigeria by ensuring that equipment connected to the country’s telecommunications networks meets established technical requirements.

The commission said closer collaboration among the NCC, Customs, manufacturers, importers and market associations would also strengthen enforcement at different points in the device supply chain.