By Grace Udofia
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has set 18 years as age limit for persons eligible to own a SIM card across all states of the federation.
NCC stated this in a draft copy of the modified Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations published on its website.
It however noted that the Commission is still consulting with telecom stakeholders on their inputs into the proposed regulations.
Executive Vice Chairman of NCC Umar Danbatta explained that subscriber’ means a person not below the age of 18 years who subscribes to communications services by purchasing a subscription medium or entering into a subscription contract with a license.
The draft sets the “activation window” to a period of 60 days from the day a new SIM was purchased to when a subscriber is required to register with the relevant licensee (telecom operators) and during which, the new subscriber will be granted limited access to voice calls, message services and other range of services usually provided by mobile operators.
It also said the “Subscriber Registration Period” means the six months period from the effective date or such other date as the Commission may specify and any extensions thereto that may be announced by the Commission, within which existing subscribers are required to register their Subscription Mediums pursuant to these Regulations.
Foreigners who wish to roam their mobile lines would not be required to register their lines provided the lines had been registered in their home countries.
According to the commission, the proposed regulations were made in line with the powers conferred upon the commission by section 70 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
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