• About Us
  • AKIP
  • Live TV
  • Our Programs
  • Latest News
    • Church News
    • Politics
    • Foreign News
    • Security
  • Airtime
  • From GM’s Desk
  • Church of Nigeria
  • Contact
Facebook Twitter Instagram
  • AKIP
  • From GM’s Desk
  • Live TV
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Advent Cable Network Nigeria Advent Cable Network Nigeria
  • Home
  • About Us
  • AKIP
  • Latest News
    • Church News
    • Politics
    • Security
    • Foreign News
    • Sport
  • Live TV
  • Our Programs
  • Airtime
  • Church of Nigeria
  • Contact
Donate
Advent Cable Network Nigeria Advent Cable Network Nigeria
Home»ACNN News Update»FG’s Move To Licence WhatsApp, Instagram, others Draws The Criticism Of Experts 
ACNN News Update

FG’s Move To Licence WhatsApp, Instagram, others Draws The Criticism Of Experts 

ACNN TVBy ACNN TVJune 10, 2021No Comments3 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email WhatsApp
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email WhatsApp

Experts in the telecommunications industry have expressed opposition to the move by the Federal Government to licence over-the-top and social media platforms in the country.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, had in a statement last Friday directed the National Broadcasting Commission to immediately commence the process of licensing all OTT and social media operations in Nigeria.

The industry experts, who spoke to our correspondent in separate interviews, however, expressed concerns over the development.

A telecommunications lawyer, Ayoola Oke, described the move to license WhatsApp and others as an impossible task, saying, “The National Broadcasting Commission does not even have any constitutional backing to licence OTTs.”

Oke said, “Even if the Federal Government wants to make a new telecoms policy, it comes from the Nigerian Communications Commission. Licencing is a regulatory matter, which is not under the minister.

“There is a section of the Nigerian Communication Act that says that the NCC must be independent and the minister must ensure that NCC is independent. How many countries in the world have licenced OTTs, how easy is it to licence OTTs? What kind of licencing framework are you going to apply because it is very difficult to licence OTTs.”

According to the Nigeria National Coordinator for the Alliance for Affordable Internet, Mr Teniola Olusola, OTT applications are built on legacy infrastructure, most of which are owned by telecom operators.

“So, we use WhatsApp or Twitter for instance on the SMS platform of the telecoms industry. Theoretically, the OTT applications should be regulated by the NCC because they are providing similar services to the telecoms.”

Olusola said if OTT applications were licenced, subscribers might have to start paying for their service.

He said, “To have a level playing field, if the OTT players are licenced, they are likely to start charging for certain services in line with what the telcos are already doing. At the moment, they don’t charge for their service because they use the advertising model.

“The advertising model generates revenue for them. Their business model is different from the telco business model. The telcos rely on the data you use or call you make, as the case might apply, and they charge you per seconds. That is not the model that is reflected in the typical OTT application.”

According to Olusola, the government needs to have an understanding of what these platforms are meant for.

“We won’t have this conflict of over-regulation of social media, which is what they seek to do, as opposed to allowing a free internet where people can express their frustrations and opinions,” he added.

When asked if the NCC had a guideline for the licencing of OTT applications, the Director, Public Affairs, Ikechukwu Adinde, said, “No, we don’t have a position on all this yet. The NCC has not said anything. We haven’t said anything concerning OTT licencing.”

Lai Mohammed Tweeter Ban
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email WhatsApp

Related Posts

Focus on Eternal Life, Bishop Ezeofor Charges Christians

January 28, 2023

Adoption of Gay Blessings Would Lead to the Removal of Welby as Leader of the Anglican World — Global South Archbishops

January 28, 2023

INEC Further Extends PVC Collection Nationawide By One Week

January 28, 2023
Add A Comment

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Recent Posts

INEC Further Extends PVC Collection Nationawide By One Week

January 28, 2023

Mega Churches, Schools Bar Old Naira Note Payment, Offering

January 27, 2023

Clergymen Protest Sealing Of Church By Abia Govt

January 27, 2023

Osun Guber: Adeleke Vows To Appeal Tribunal Jugdement

January 27, 2023

Elections: Follow Prayer With Action, Kumuyi Tells Christians

January 26, 2023
Advent Cable Network Nigeria

ACNNTV is the Televangelism arm of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) with focus to keep the orthodox faith alive through development of inspiring and life changing broadcast products.

Facebook Twitter Instagram
Quick Links
  • About Us
  • AKIP
  • Board of Management
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
Quick Links
  • Our Programs
  • Program Rates
  • From GM’s Desk
  • Live TV

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

© 2023 Anglican Cable Network Nigeria,Abuja. Designed by Dominion Web.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.