NCC announces new Type Approval standards for interoperability, affordability for telecoms consumers

*The Nigerian Communications Commission releases the updated Type Approval standards to further to ensure maximum interoperability and affordability for telecoms consumers in the telecommunications sector of the country’s economy

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In a bid to ensure maximum interoperability and affordability for telecoms consumers in the country’s digital ecosystem, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has released the updated Type Approval standards for the telecommunications sector of the country’s economy.

ConsumerConnect reports the Commision, in the updated Type Approval standards published on its corporate Web site,  stated it is duly empowered by the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 to “establish and enforce standards for all telecommunications equipment in operation in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Some smartphones

The telecoms sector regulatory Commission also affirmed the objective of issuing the new Type Approval standards is to ensure that they operate seamlessly and safely within the Nigerian telecoms ecosystem.

Objectives of updated Type Approval standards for telecoms consumers

The Commission equally said in a move to ensure maximum interoperability and affordability for consumers, it set the Type Approval standards, based on international standards from global industry regulatory institutions.

These, the NCC listed to include 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).

The industry regulator further stated as Nigeria is an associate member of IEC through the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the West African country could become an associate member of CENELEC and ETSI.

The Type Approval categories are on Standards, Approved Handsets, Approved Equipment, and Type Approval Fees.

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

Type Approval Standards groupings

Besides, the Commission stated 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).

Some standards relate to several kinds of equipment that they are collected under their own heading.

According to NCC, these groupings are intended for convenience, including Type Approval Standards on All Equipment, Analogue Wireline Telephony Equipment, Wireless Short Range Equipment, Wireless Local Loop Equipment, Wireless Local Area Equipment, and Wireless Long Distance Equipment.

Other groupings are Fixed Satellite Connection Equipment, Mobile Satellite Connection Equipment, Second Generation Mobile Telephony Equipment, Third Generation Mobile Telephony Equipment, Analogue Leased Line Equipment, Digital Leased Line Equipment, and Digital Subscriber Loop Equipment.

The regulator further noted that the individually identified standards are not dated.

Industry stakeholders to ensure equipment conform to applicable standards ─NCC

In general, Equipment Holders should refer to the most recent editions of the standards and watch for subsequent amendments, it said.

The NCC as well explained that the standards have been chosen because “they represent international practices as developed in many countries.

“Nigeria adopts practices predominantly like those adopted in Europe (for example, by being in ITU World Region 1 for spectrum allocation and by using GSM very extensively).”

The Commission stated: “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.”

For comprehensive details of the NCC’s updated Type Approval standards for the country, please click >>HERE.