### Nigerian Communications Commission Takes Action Against Telecom Outages The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has implemented new regulations aimed at improving transparency and accountability among telecommunications providers in Nigeria. This initiative comes in response to ongoing issues with network outages that have affected consumers across the country. The NCC's directives require service providers to notify customers about the causes of service disruptions, the locations impacted, and the expected time for restoration. Additionally, telecom operators are mandated to compensate customers for outages lasting more than 24 hours, ensuring that consumers are informed and compensated for service failures [https://itweb.africa/article/nigerian-regulator-reigns-in-telcos-over-network-outages/PmxVEMKE66bvQY85][https://dailypost.ng/2025/05/26/ncc-orders-mtn-glo-other-mnos-to-alert-customers-on-outage]. ### Structure of the NCC's New Directives 1. **Mandatory Notifications**: Telecom operators must inform consumers about major service outages, including the cause, affected areas, and estimated restoration times [https://nairametrics.com/2025/05/26/ncc-orders-nigerian-telecom-operators-to-announce-major-network-outages-compensate-subscribers]. 2. **Compensation for Outages**: Companies are required to compensate customers for outages that last longer than 24 hours, which includes extending service validity [https://www.legit.ng/business-economy/technology/1656773-ncc-orders-mtn-airtel-compensate-customers-network-outages-lasting-24-hours]. 3. **Public Disclosure**: The NCC has launched a reporting portal for telecom providers to disclose outage information publicly, enhancing consumer awareness [https://techafricanews.com/2025/05/26/ncc-mandates-telecom-providers-to-notify-consumers-of-major-outages-launches-reporting-portal]. 4. **Advance Notice for Planned Outages**: Operators must also inform consumers at least one week in advance of any planned service outages [https://premiumtimesng.com/business/business-news/796865-ncc-mandates-telecom-operators-to-inform-consumers-of-service-outages.html]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Outage Notification Requirements**: Telecom operators must use public media channels to announce outages, ensuring that consumers are well-informed [https://innovation-village.com/ncc-mandates-public-disclosure-of-major-network-outages-launches-transparent-reporting-portal]. - **Compensation Guidelines**: The NCC's directive specifies that compensation must be proportional to the duration of the outage, reinforcing consumer rights [https://regtechafrica.com/nigeria-ncc-mandates-telecom-operators-to-notify-consumers-of-network-outages-and-offer-compensation]. - **Consumer Impact**: The NCC's actions are expected to significantly improve customer satisfaction and trust in telecom services, as consumers will be better informed and compensated for service disruptions [https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/05/ncc-mandates-service-providers-to-inform-consumers-about-major-outages-on-networks]. ### Conclusion: Enhancing Consumer Rights in Nigeria's Telecom Sector The NCC's recent directives represent a significant step towards enhancing consumer rights and accountability in Nigeria's telecommunications sector. The key findings from the new regulations include: 1. **Increased Transparency**: Telecom operators are now required to provide clear and timely information about service outages. 2. **Consumer Compensation**: Customers will receive compensation for prolonged outages, promoting fairness in service delivery. 3. **Proactive Communication**: The requirement for advance notice of planned outages aims to minimize consumer inconvenience. These measures are designed to foster a more reliable and consumer-friendly telecommunications environment in Nigeria, ultimately benefiting millions of subscribers [https://thecable.ng/ncc-to-telcos-inform-subscribers-of-service-disruption-compensate-after-24-hour-outage].