The news: 

• The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has deployed the Device Management System (NCC-DMS) to register and regulate all mobile phones accessing communication networks across the country, Nairametrics reports. 
• The system, a part of the NCC’s new “Type Approval Business Rule 2024,” mandates all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Nigeria, including GLO, MTN, and Airtel, to connect their equipment to the DMS platform.
• Per the NCC, the initiative aims to improve control over mobile devices, enhance security, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. 

The DMS will serve as a Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR), tracking all mobile devices by collecting their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers and synchronising them with international IMEI databases.

This centralised approach will allow the NCC to monitor devices across all network operators and ensure that only approved, compliant devices are permitted on Nigeria’s communication networks. Devices that are not registered through the system will be blacklisted, making them unusable within the country.

The NCC-DMS is intended to combat the use of unapproved devices while also preventing mobile phone theft and fraud. By tracking and blacklisting IMEIs of stolen devices, the system is expected to curb phone-related crimes. 

The NCC noted that blacklisting stolen or illegal phones will render them useless and reduce incidents of phone theft and snatching, as these devices would lose value.

In addition to tracking devices, the NCC-DMS will act as a regulatory tool, requiring all MNOs to synchronise their Equipment Identity Registers (EIRs) with the system. This synchronisation will enable the regulator to ensure that network operators adhere to uniform standards for device registration and regulation across the country.

The NCC has also stipulated that device suppliers will be responsible for registering type-approved devices on the NCC-DMS.

Additionally, individuals will be responsible for registering devices through the DMS, but the number of devices allowed for registration will be limited, as determined by the Commission.

There will be a fee for each device registered on the system, which applies to consumers and suppliers, who must ensure that all devices sold or used within Nigeria comply with NCC regulations. This fee is separate from the type-approval fees already in place.

The NCC first proposed the NCC-DMS in 2021 to enhance national security and improve transparency in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector. 

This move is anticipated to reduce mobile-related crimes, protect consumers, and boost government revenue from device registration.