The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, is working on a new licensing framework to regulate Application-to-Person, A2P, messaging services in the country.
A virtual forum was held on Friday to bring stakeholders together and discuss the proposed framework.
NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, represented by Mrs. Chizua Whyte, acting Head of Legal and Regulatory Services, explained that A2P messaging is a crucial communication tool used by businesses, government agencies, and service providers to send important notifications to consumers.
She noted that A2P messaging is commonly used for things like bank alerts, healthcare reminders, promotional messages, and public service updates.
It helps businesses stay connected to their customers, supports public communication efforts, and contributes to socio-economic development.
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However, she highlighted key challenges facing the A2P messaging sector in Nigeria, including fraud, spam, data privacy concerns, and an uneven distribution of value among industry players.
These issues not only hurt consumers but also threaten the growth and fairness of the system.
To tackle these problems, the NCC has developed a draft framework aimed at creating a secure, fair, and transparent environment for all stakeholders.
Mrs. Whyte emphasized the importance of collaboration and urged participants to share their experiences and suggestions to improve the framework.
“Our goal is to create a sustainable messaging system that protects consumers, promotes healthy competition, and opens up new opportunities for businesses,” she said.
The Assistant Director at the Licensing and Authorisation Department of the NCC, Mrs. Truddy Tony-Awusaku provides an overview of framework for International A2P Messaging in Nigeria
He noted that the A2P generate a centralized International A2P platform, route A2P messages securely.
He also adds that the A2P offers transactional and notification services and implement subscriber opt in/out mechanisms.
The NCC assured stakeholders of its commitment to creating a regulatory system that encourages innovation, ensures fairness, and protects everyone involved in the telecom sector. It also promised continued engagement with stakeholders before finalizing the framework.
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