It was a sad day today when we woke up to the news that the Nigerian Telecommunications Commission (NCC) had placed a ban on all promotions and lotteries being run by telecommunications operators in Nigeria.
The NCC made a statement on Monday, citing overwhelming consumer complaints as the main reason for its action. It said that the incidence of drop calls had risen and that the increase in the number of minutes available to consumers within a limited period of time had created congestion on the networks as subscribers tried to use them up before their expiration. They also said on-net calls were now being offered by operators at tariffs well below the prevailing inter-connect rates (don’t think the average guy on the streets understands this, nor cares), thereby introducing anti-competitive practices and behavior. . . phew!
OK, let’s dissect: Competition as we know is a good thing. It’s good because it helps to bring down prices, and one would’ve thought that was the whole idea behind the privatization of the Telecoms sector. Now that this competition is reflected in the ‘Freebies’ war, it ought to be a good thing. . . right? Apparently the NCC doesn’t think so. But if you take away the right of Mr. ‘Common Man’ to make cheap calls now and then, aren’t you condemning him to the murderous regular call rates which he’s been trying to escape from all this while. Is NCC’s actions really helping?
I can tell you this for free: they’re NOT helping me, ‘cos I’m one person who’s not shy to say that I’m enjoying the benefits that the ‘freebies’ war has to offer. I trake full advantage of it and I’m not ashamed to admit it – there, I said it! But now they’re gone, and I’m at the mercy of the networks – again! now I’m not a telecoms technocrat or any thing-a-ma-jig like that, but I would’ve thought that putting in place oversight control measures to ensure adequate compliance to consumer satisfaction yardsticks would be the way to go, but like I said. . . I’m no expert.
What does this action portend for competition and price reduction in the long run? What do we do for fun when the youngsters can’t call their boos and dolls for longer hours anymore? For that matter, what am I gonna do for fun, when I can’t eavesdrop on my neighbour’s little sister’s amorous phone conversations at my window at 10 pm in the night? What can I say – I’m a freak like that!
I’d like to strangle the persons who made those complaints about the worsening call services, even though I can’t blame them. . . but I still want to strangle them all the same. It would interest you to know that the ban affects Globacom, MTN, Intercellular Nigeria Plc, Visafone, Etisalat, Airtel Networks Limited and MultiLinks Telecoms Limited, basicall there’s no hiding place. But we’ve got to have promos; what’s a telecoms service without promos and lotteries.
Nigerians are used to it; we like it; it’s good for competition and price reduction. Sure the services have been poor of late, but is a ban really the ultimate solution?
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