NCC deploys DDMS to regulate mobile devices
By Patience Ikpeme
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has launched the Device Management System (NCC-DMS) to register and regulate all mobile phones accessing communication networks across the country.
This deployment is part of the NCC’s new “Type Approval Business Rule 2024,” which mandates all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Nigeria, including GLO, MTN, and Airtel, to connect their equipment to the DMS platform.
According to the NCC, the initiative aims to enhance control over mobile devices, improve security, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
The DMS will function as a Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR), tracking all mobile devices by collecting their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers and synchronizing them with international IMEI databases.
This centralized system will allow the NCC to monitor devices across all network operators, ensuring that only approved and compliant devices are permitted on Nigeria’s communication networks. Devices not registered through the system will be blacklisted, rendering them unusable within the country.
The NCC-DMS is designed to combat the use of unapproved devices, prevent mobile phone theft, and reduce fraud. By tracking and blacklisting the IMEIs of stolen devices, the system is expected to significantly curb phone-related crimes.
The Commission emphasized that blacklisting stolen or illegal phones will render them useless, reducing the incidence of phone theft and snatching by stripping such devices of their value.
Beyond tracking devices, the NCC-DMS will act as a regulatory tool by requiring all MNOs to synchronize their Equipment Identity Registers (EIRs) with the system.
This synchronization will enable the regulator to enforce 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 required to register their devices through the DMS, though the number of devices allowed per registration will be limited, as determined by the Commission.
The Commission disclosed that a registration fee will apply to each device registered on the system, affecting both consumers and suppliers, who must ensure that all devices sold or used within Nigeria comply with NCC regulations.
This fee is separate from the existing type-approval fees.
The NCC initially proposed the NCC-DMS in 2021 to enhance national security and improve transparency in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
This move is expected to reduce mobile-related crimes, protect consumers, and boost government revenue through device registration.
