The Nigerian Communications Commission has fined Etisalat and Globacom a total of N14.4 Million for failing to comply with its instructions to deactivate all pre-registered SIM cards on their networks, for security reasons.
NCC stated that the fine must be paid on or before September 7, 2015, and that failure to do so, would attract an additional fine of N100,000 per day for each of the operators.
NCC revealed that its monitoring team found 37 pre-registered SIM cards on the Globacom network, while it discovered 35 pre-registered SIM cards on the Etisalat network.
In two separate letters addressed to Globacom and Etisalat, NCC said “The Commission, in consideration of the prevalence of infractions and the impact of the contravention on the national database of telecommunications subscribers, we hereby impose sanction on Globacom Nigeria and Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited.
“That Globacom, should, pursuant to regulation 20(1) of the registration of telephone subscribers of 2011, pay to the NCC, the sum of N200,000 only for each of the 37 pre-registered SIM cards found active on your network in contravention of the regulations, totaling N7.4 million.
“That Etisalat should, pursuant to regulation 20(1) of the registration of telephone subscribers of 2011, pay to the NCC, the sum of N200,000 only for each of the 35 pre-registered SIM cards found active on your network in contravention of the regulations, totaling N7million.”
After a meeting with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Department of State Service (DSS), the network operators and the NCC, the commission directed all telecoms operators to commence deactivation of pre-registered SIM cards and gave them seven days to do so or face sanction.