The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled a draft regulatory framework to tackle challenges in the Application-to-Person (A2P) messaging ecosystem.
This development was announced during a virtual stakeholders’ forum held on Friday, 20th December, 2024.
The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Aminu Maida, ably represented by Acting Head of Legal and Regulatory Services, Mrs. Chizua Whyte in the forum highlighted the significance of A2P messaging in today’s digital landscape, noting its role in facilitating direct communication between businesses and consumers through notifications, alerts, and promotional messages.
Maida emphasized that A2P messaging is crucial for services such as banking alerts and government updates, significantly contributing to Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
However, he pointed out that the A2P messaging sector faces serious issues, including fraud, spam, and data privacy concerns, which hinder its growth.
He stressed that the NCC has crafted the draft framework to promote fairness across the value chain and enhance consumer protection.
Key features of the proposed framework include a license fee of ₦10 million for a five-year tenure, strict eligibility criteria for operators, and mandatory compliance with technical and security standards.
The framework also mandates adherence to data protection laws and requires periodic performance reports from operators.
The NCC reiterated its commitment to an inclusive rule-making process, inviting stakeholders, including service providers and consumers, to provide feedback to refine the framework before its finalization.
The EVC urged participants to engage actively in discussions that will shape the future of A2P messaging in Nigeria.
The Commission plans to continue consultations with stakeholders to ensure that the final framework aligns with its goals of transparency, consumer protection, and sustainable growth within the telecommunications sector.
The event featured an interactive session with relevant stakeholders who contributed their iota to the draft of the A2P project.
