NCC launches device mgt system to enhance mobile security
Omeiza Bilal
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has introduced the Device Management System (NCC-DMS), a central platform designed to regulate and monitor mobile devices accessing communication networks across the country.
In its newly released ‘Type Approval Business Rule 2024,’ the Commission mandated all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Nigeria to connect to the system. The initiative aims to enforce stricter control over mobile devices, enhance national security, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
The NCC-DMS will serve as a central database for tracking devices across all MNOs, with a focus on curbing the use of unapproved devices and preventing issues like phone theft and fraudulent activities.
The system will acquire and synchronize the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) of all devices with international databases, ensuring that only compliant devices access the networks.
Mobile network operators are required to align their Equipment Identity Registers (EIRs) with the NCC-DMS, while device suppliers must register type-approved devices on the system.
The NCC also plans to limit the number of devices individuals can register, with a fee structure applied for each device registration.
According to the Commission, all mobile network operators are required to connect to the NCC-DMS and mirror network-related policies configured by the NCC. This, it said, ensures that network operators adhere to the same standards and policies, fostering a uniform approach to device regulation.
“NCC-DMS shall acquire the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) of all devices latching to the communication network and synchronize with international databases of IMEI repositories.
“NCC-DMS shall maintain a registry of all communication devices available in the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the Commission stated in the Business Rule.
It added that individuals would be able to register their mobile devices, but the number of devices allowed for registration will be limited and determined by the Commission.
Additionally, device suppliers will be responsible for registering type-approved devices on the NCC-DMS.
“To curtail the counterfeit mobile phone market, discourage mobile phone theft, enhance national security, protect consumer interest, increase revenue generation for the government, reduce the rate of kidnapping, mitigate the use of stolen phones for crime, and facilitate blocking or tracing of stolen mobile phones and other smart devices, one of the means to achieve this is through the deployment of Device Management System,” the Commission stated in a statement issued at that time.
The platform ensures that every reported IMEIs for stolen and illegal mobile phones and other smart devices are blacklisted and shared with all operators across all networks; to ensure all unregistered devices do not work in any of the Networks in Nigeria.
This, in a way, is expected to reduce incidents of phone snatching as blacklisted devices become useless and valueless in the mobile phone market.
