By FUNMILOLA GBOTEKU

The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) on Thursday lauded the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for its regulatory interventions in the sector over the years.

The ALTON Chairman, Mr Gbenga Adebayo, gave this commendation during a courtesy visit to Mr Idris Olorunnimbe, the Chairman, Board of Commissioners, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in Lagos.

The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria is the official industry body for all providers of telecommunications and subsidiary services in Nigeria.

Membership of the Association includes all the major telecommunications licensees in Nigeria, particularly those providing voice and data telephony as well as those providing ancillary and other related value added services.

Adebayo said, during the visit, that forex reforms and the resolution of the ?300 billion USSD debt crisis restored stability and investor confidence in the telecoms sector.

He noted that telecom operators, who earned revenue in Naira but met obligations in foreign currency for bandwidth, software, equipment and international traffic, faced severe strain during forex scarcity.

According to him, the recent forex reforms improved availability, reduced foreign debt exposure and strengthened confidence in the market.

He said, “The USSD debt crisis accumulated over four years to nearly ?300 billion and posed systemic risks to the telecoms and digital financial ecosystem.

“However, through regulatory intervention, the system was migrated to end-user billing and the outstanding debt was eliminated, converting what was a looming crisis into a sustainable framework,” Adebayo said.

Speaking on tariff, the ALTON chairman said tariff adjustments approved by the NCC after 13 years of static pricing prevented service rationing and industry decline.

He explained that inflation, currency volatility, aging infrastructure and rising energy costs had pushed tariffs below cost before the review.

According to him, the approval restored gradual profitability, improved network stability and revived capital expenditure planning.

Adebayo, however, raised concern over frequent fibre cuts caused largely by road construction activities, describing them as a major threat to national connectivity.

He called for strict consequence management, stressing that contractors responsible for damaging telecoms infrastructure must repair it before continuing work.

Responding, Olorunnimbe described telecommunications as the central nervous system of the economy, noting that when networks fail, commerce, education, healthcare and governance are disrupted.

He said that the NCC would maintain a partnership approach with operators while ensuring fairness, accountability and improved service quality for consumers.

According to him, enforcement of the Critical National Infrastructure designation must be strengthened, insisting that accountability for infrastructure damage should be non-negotiable.

Olorunnimbe also reaffirmed the independence of the Commission, stating that regulatory decisions would continue to be guided by national interest and institutional integrity.

He urged operators to support broader national objectives, including expanding access to underserved communities and considering zero-rated access to educational platforms to enhance digital inclusion. (NAN)