adverts
The Director-General of the National Communications Authority, Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, has cautioned telecommunications companies that they could face sanctions if they fail to comply with the regulator’s new and stricter call-quality requirements.
Speaking in an interview with Bernard Avle on The Point of View programme on Channel One TV on Monday, March 9, Ing. Fianko explained that the NCA has tightened the allowable call drop rate from 3 per cent to 1 per cent.
According to him, the new requirement signals a major shift in regulatory focus from merely expanding network access to improving the quality of service experienced by consumers.
adverts
“The shift now is from access to quality of the experience. In the past, the requirement was that about 3% of the millions of minutes of calls could drop, and it was okay by the regulatory requirement. We have reduced it to 1%. Meaning that it is more stringent now,” he said.
He explained that telecom operators must now upgrade and properly dimension their networks to ensure that no more than 1 per cent of calls drop.
“Now you have to provision your network or dimension it to make sure that not more than 1% of the calls drop,” he added.
Ing. Fianko noted that although the NCA has the authority to impose fines on telecom companies that fail to meet the new standard, the regulator’s first step would be to notify operators and allow them time to correct the problem.
“Our first action is not to fine; our first action is to bring it to your attention and give you time to remedy it,” he explained.
However, he warned that sanctions could follow if operators repeatedly fail to address network problems in specific locations.
According to him, the NCA conducts follow-up tests in affected areas to confirm whether the problem persists.
“If we go back to the location and test again for three days and you fail, it means that it’s not just a snapshot; it’s a consistent issue in that locality,” he said.
The director-general emphasised that the regulator’s priority is to protect consumers by ensuring improved call quality rather than immediately imposing financial penalties.
While fines are stipulated in telecom operating licences, he explained that penalties alone do not directly solve the problem for users.
“There are fines that are in the licence we are able to issue. If we fine them, the money comes to us, but it doesn’t help the consumer,” he said.
He therefore stressed that operators would first receive a notice to cure the problem, but failure to resolve persistent network issues could ultimately lead to financial sanctions.
Click the link Puretvonline.com | WhatsApp Channel to join the WhatsApp channel
GOT A STORY?
Contact/WhatsApp: +233243201960 or manuelnkansah33@gmail.com
