The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)
For failing to adjust to the rules for the deployment of 5.4GHz frequency band, some corporations in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, and Calabar, Cross River states have had their premises shut down by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).It is a felony offence to supply service in frequency band not validly assigned or licensed by the NCC, as offered below Section 121, and 122 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The NCC Enforcement workforce took Compliance Monitoring to the states on April 26 and 27, respectively, to implement compliance with its Guidelines for the Deployment of Service in the 5.4GHz Frequency Band.The Commission, based mostly on the Guidelines issued a public discover dated April three, warning unlicensed operators and most people to vacate unlawful transmission in the 5.4GHz frequency Band inside 14 days.
The deadline for trip ended on April 17, consequently the Enforcement workforce visited Hot Minet Services positioned on 80 MCC Road, Calabar, and United Bank for Africa (UBA), on Udo Udoma Banking Layout, Uyo, for failing to adjust to the Guidelines and the general public discover issued by the Commission.
Accordingly, the Enforcement workforce led by the Director, Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Department, NCC, Efosa Idehen, shut down the operations of Hot Minet Services. The workforce additionally confiscated the non-type accredited tools utilized by the Company in offering the unlawful companies. The workforce additionally directed Hot Minet to make sure that it obtains the requisite licence earlier than its premises might be unsealed.
Also, the Enforcement workforce additionally got here onerous on UBA for unlawful deployment of service in the mentioned 5.4GHz frequency band. Consequent upon the enforcement motion, the tools (radio) used in the availability of the service was eliminated and held in custody of the Commission. More so, the Enforcement workforce needed to order the arrest of some officers of the Bank for their resistance.
The punishment for the offence is a wonderful for the preliminary price for the related licence; a wonderful not exceeding 10 instances the price for the related licence; imprisonment for a time period not exceeding one yr; or each wonderful and imprisonment.The suspects have been handed over to the related safety company for discreet investigation and attainable prosecution.