Regulator announces 2,179 updated Type Approval handsets for telecoms consumers

*The Nigerian Communications Commission, empowered by the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, says it establishes and enforces standards for all telecommunications equipment in operation, to ensure that telecoms consumers operate such type approval phones seamlessly and safely within the country’s ecosystem

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has released the updated list of Type Approval mobile phones, which telecoms consumers can purchase and use in the country’s ecosystem.

ConsumerConnect reports the NCC, which released its full list of Type Approval handsets via its corporate Web site, is empowered by the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 to establish and enforce standards for all telecommunications equipment in operation in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Commission stated that the objective is to ensure that such phones operate seamlessly and safely within the Nigerian telecommunications environment.

The telecoms sector regulatory Commission said in order to ensure maximum interoperability and affordability for consumers, “the Type Approval standards set by the Nigerian Communications Commission are based on international standards from; The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and its International Special Committee on Radio Interference (CISPR), The European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (CENELEC) and The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI).”

According to NCC, Nigeria is an associate member of IEC through the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and could become an associate member of CENELEC and ETSI.

The regulator also noted that all equipment manufacturers, vendors and operators, including customer devices such as mobile phones and wireless adapters, must therefore, ensure that their equipment conform to the applicable standards as mandated by the Commission before bringing them into Nigeria.

Of Type Approval standards

The Commission explains the Type Approval Standards are grouped under headings according to the main kinds of equipment to which they relate.

Besides, the emphasis of each of the Type Approval Standards listed are identified with regard to whether they deal mainly with safety, electromagnetic compatibility or physical interoperability (which can cover optical, electrical or radio systems).

It said: “Some standards relate to so many kinds of equipment that they are collected under their own heading.

“These groupings are intended for convenience.”

The following table contains a comprehensive list of all mobile handsets that have been tested and found to meet the applicable Type Approval standards required to allow them to be sold to consumers and operated in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

For a comprehensive list of Type Approval mobile phones, click HERE>>.