NCC hosts Stakeholders Forum, unveils Draft A2P Licensing Framework
By Emma Ogbuehi
In a bid to partner the critical segments of the telecommunications ecosystem for optimal effects for businesses, consumers and service providers, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Friday, December 20, 2024, convened a virtual Stakeholders’ Forum on the Draft A2P Licensing Framework. The meeting, tagged Stakeholder Forum on Application-to-Person, or A2P, Messaging, deliberated on he import of the framework in the telecommunication industry and other sectors of the economy.
In a welcome address by the Ag. Head, Legal & Regulatory Services, Mrs. Chizua Whyte, on behalf of the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC)/CEO, of the Commission, Dr. Aminu Maida, the NCC listed the vital role the A2P messaging plays in today’s digital world. These include sending notifications, whether transactional, promotional, or service-related, directly to consumers.
“It has become the go-to platform for businesses to send notifications, whether transactional, promotional, or service-related, directly to consumers. From bank alerts and healthcare reminders to promotional campaigns and government updates, A2P messaging drives efficiency, enhances communication, and supports our socio-economic development”, Mrs. Whyte said.
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She added that the strategic focus of the NCC which centres on three key stakeholders: the government, consumers, and the industry—the licensees, entails the stakeholders playing vital role in the success of the A2P messaging platform.
“For the government, A2P messaging is a powerful tool for communication with citizens, enabling the efficient delivery of public services and information. For consumers, it guarantees timely, secure, and reliable access to essential updates and services. For the industry, it creates opportunities for businesses and service providers to innovate, drive competition, and achieve sustainable growth”, Mrs. Whyte stressed.
She noted however that despite its undeniable value, the international A2P messaging space in Nigeria faces significant challenges, including consumer protection, fraud prevention, and ensuring industry fairness.
These gaps, she said, have led to issues such as fraud, spam, data privacy concerns, and an unequal distribution of value across the ecosystem, adding that such challenges not only affect businesses and consumers but also pose a threat to the sustainable growth and potential of the crucial communication tool.
Hosting the forum was a pivotal step toward addressing these challenges, the NCC said, adding that it represented its commitment to fostering innovation while ensuring that all players in the value chain operate in a fair, transparent, and secure environment. Mrs. Whyte said that the forum was in line with the belief of the commission that effective regulation stems from inclusivity and collaboration.
Stressing the need for the active participation of the stakeholders in the Forum, Mrs. Whyte further remarked that the goal is to create a sustainable and thriving A2P messaging ecosystem that protects consumers, promotes fair competition, and unlocks new opportunities for growth”.
She assured that the Nigerian Communications Commission would remain committed to providing a regulatory environment that supports innovation, protects stakeholders, and ensures that that telecommunications sector continues to thrive.
The Commission presented the various feedbacks received as inputs into the A2P Licensing Framework being proposed and gave its responses to each or the observations and recommendations made by the licensees.
Aside the Friday Virtual Stakeholders’ Forum, which NCC said was just beginning a process, the Commission said it would continue to engage internal and external stakeholders ahead of the Final Draft of the A2P Messaging Services Licensing Framework in line with its participatory rule making process.
There was a presentation by an Assistant Director at the Licensing and Authorisation Department of the NCC, Mrs. Truddy Tony-Awusaku, which provided an Overview of Framework for International A2P Messaging in Nigeria