Chairman Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) Engr. Gbenga Adebayo said the only way of addressing anti market practice in the telecom industry in Nigeria is to focus on internal self regulation.

Adebayo stated this at the extra-ordinary Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos adding that one of the strengths of ALTON is internal self-regulation without waiting for Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to sanction its members.

“We have had a cause to caution our members when it is observed that they are implementing anti market policy. This is why operators have not been sanction for any other reason except for quality of service (QoS) which we have continually argued is beyond the control of operators,” Adebayo said.

He attributed the significant improvement in the quality of service recorded across the various networks since 2013 to the members’ continuous investment in network elements to enhance good quality of services across the national network.

“ALTON has continued to advocate other factors affecting quality of services such as unlawful closure of base transceiver station (BTS) sites by State Agencies and issues of multiple taxation and regulation. Towards the last quarter of 2014, the NCC stepped up media campaign in the print media to sensitize the public on the impact of illegal closure of sites on telecom quality of services,” he added.

He emphasized that the feedback they received from their members in 2014 on illicit demands made by different levels of government and interference with members’ activities and operation in certain areas indicated that such action is on the rise.

“The Association has continued to take very strong position on these issues with different agencies of government, local and state level authorities and we continue to solicit the intervention of critical stakeholders including the Minister of Communications Technology, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Attorney General and Minister of Justices, the National Security Adviser and National Assembly to plead for their intervention,” the ALTON Chairman said.

He explained that part of the end product of ALTON’s consultation is the State Smart Initiative being spear headed by the Minister of Communications Technology and the engagement of the NCC with Nigeria Environmental Regulatory Agency (NESRA) on oversight regulatory functions.