- Underscores Criticality Of Segment To The Telecoms Ecosystem
By Angeline Mgbele, Bureau Chief, Northern Nigeria
With nine days to make up a month after it posted the advisory on its website, telecommunications sector regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission( NCC), today, hosted a virtual Stakeholders’ Forum, as part of its participatory rule making process, to discuss the licensing framework around a new licence category underway in the Nigerian telecom sector, namely Application-to-Person (A2P) Messaging Licensing Framework, while underlining the importance of A2P to the telecommunications ecosystem.
In his welcome address to the participants of the virtual event, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer(EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission(NCC) Dr. Aminu Maida, highlighted the crucial importance of A2P which he says affects businesses, consumers, and service providers alike.
“A2P messaging plays a vital role in today’s digital world. It has become the go-to platform for businesses to send notifications, whether transactional, promotional, or service-related, directly to consumers. From bank alerts and healthcare reminders to promotional campaigns and government updates, A2P messaging drives efficiency, enhances communication, and supports our socio-economic development,” stated Dr. Maida.
Maida’s speech was delivered by the Ag. Head, Legal & Regulatory Services of NCC, Mrs. Chizua Whyte.
According to Maida, at the Nigerian Communications Commission, the strategic focus was centred on three key stakeholders: the government, consumers, and the industry— licensees, saying each of these stakeholders played a vital role in the success of the A2P messaging platform. The NCC boss went ahead to list the specific value proposition of A2P to the three critical stakeholders:
Said he: ‘For the government, A2P messaging is a powerful tool for communication with citizens, enabling the efficient delivery of public services and information.
For consumers, it guarantees timely, secure, and reliable access to essential updates and services.
For the industry, it creates opportunities for businesses and service providers to innovate, drive competition, and achieve sustainable growth.”
Maida noted that despite its undeniable value, the international A2P messaging space in Nigeria faced significant challenges, including consumer protection, fraud prevention, and ensuring industry fairness.
He continued: “These gaps have led to issues such as fraud, spam, data privacy concerns, and an unequal distribution of value across the ecosystem. Such challenges not only affect businesses and consumers but also pose a threat to the sustainable growth and potential of this crucial communication tool.
“This forum marks a pivotal step toward addressing these challenges. Today we will be presenting the proposed regulatory framework for A2P messaging to you, our valued stakeholders, for deliberation. This framework represents our commitment to fostering innovation while ensuring that all players in the value chain operate in a fair, transparent, and secure environment.
“At the NCC, we firmly believe that effective regulation stems from inclusivity and collaboration. This forum is an opportunity for all of us—operators, aggregators, businesses, service providers, and consumers—to engage in meaningful discussions. We want to hear from you—your perspectives, experiences, and recommendations—so that together, we can refine this framework to ensure it meets the needs of all of us.
“Our goal is to create a sustainable and thriving A2P messaging ecosystem that protects consumers, promotes fair competition, and unlocks new opportunities for growth. To achieve this, your active participation today is essential. I urge you to engage constructively, provide feedback, and contribute ideas that will help shape the future of A2P messaging in Nigeria.
Let me assure you that the Nigerian Communications Commission remains committed to providing a regulatory environment that supports innovation, protects stakeholders, and ensures that our telecommunications sector continues to thrive.”
Below are other salient highlights from the Virtual Event:
* The Commission presented the various feedbacks received as inputs into the A2P Licensing Framework being proposed by it and and gave its responses to each of the observations and recommendations made by the licensees.
*Aside the Virtual Stakeholders’ Forum, held today, which the Commission says is just the beginning of a process, the NCC says it will continue to engage internal and external stakeholders ahead of the Final Draft of the A2P Messaging Services Licensing Framework in line with its participatory rule making process.
*There was a presentation by an Assistant Director at the Licensing and Authorisation Department of the NCC, Mrs. Truddy Tony-Awusaku, which provides an Overview of Framework for International A2P Messaging in Nigeria.
