The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria wants the Nigerian Communications Commission to show evidence that its members are involved in call masking

By Anayo Ezugwu

THE CAT and mouse game between the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, and the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, over call masking is unravelling. The NCC has been warning telecom companies to stop international call masking due to security reasons. But the companies have failed to heed the warning, prompting the NCC as the industry regulator to threaten to fine any of them caught in the act.

The NCC warned that it would impose maximum sanctions including withdrawal of operational licenses, on the telecom operators for alleged masking of international telephone calls.

However, the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, is asking the NCC to show proof that interconnect houses are involved in call masking. The association argued that only five percent of all calls were routed through the interconnect houses, while the remaining 95 percent passed through network operators.

Olusola Teniola, president, ATCON, said: “The issue that has been raised by the NCC about call masking and refilling and their subsequent notice to our members that they are going to suspend their licences is rather unfortunate because it would appear that the commission has not come up with any substantiated evidence to suggest that this practice is being performed by our members.

“It is important to note that only five per cent of voice and the SMS traffic goes through the interconnect houses. What is happening to the 95 per cent of calls? Are we saying there is no call refilling or masking originating from the networks? These are some of the things that need to be shown to the licensees as evidence.”

Teniola stated that even where evidences existed, the proper thing the commission was expected to do was to give a directive as to how such calls should be treated by the licensees. In certain instances, he said call masking was legal as some companies used it to show that the calls emanated from one of their departments.

“In certain call scenarios, call masking or call resealing is a tangible solution to certain types of calls. There is no court of law that says it cannot be done. For instance, if you are making a call from a company and that company wants to demonstrate that that call was coming from its cell department, then the number of the company will not appear but the department name. In telecommunications law, there is nothing that says it is illegal.”

The reaction of ATCON followed the January 31, deadline NCC gave to six companies to defend their participation in call masking or risk suspension of their licenses.  Tony Ojobo, director, public affairs, NCC, had said: “It is likely that the operating licenses of some of the interconnect exchange and other licensees involved in the practice would either be revoked or suspended in the coming week.”

Ojobo listed the licensees to include Medallion Communications Limited, Interconnect Cleaning House Nigeria Limited, Niconnx Communication Limited, Breeze Micro Limited, Solid Interconnectivity and Exchange Telecommunications Limited.

According to him, because of the critical impacts of this nefarious practice on national security and consumer experience, the NCC is determined to decisively deal with any of its licensees implicated in the scam. “We do not want to expose the country to any further embarrassment. At the very least, serious sanctions would be imposed on them if it is found that their involvement does not justify license or revocation of their licenses,” the statement said.

The commission have followed the provisions of the applicable laws to ensure that the affected licensees are  not treated unfairly given the severity of the sanctions the commission was considering.

Although Ojobo said the customer experience data monitored showed a noticeable reduction in the volume of masked calls received by subscribers, the commission was determined to continue monitoring. “We are not taking anything for granted. We will continue to aggressively monitor all our licensees regardless of their size or the scope of their operations. Anyone found wanting would be strictly dealt with in accordance with law.”

Call masking or refilling is a practice in which callers hide their true numbers when making calls, especially international calls, in order to evade the international call rates. The telecom regulator said the act posed a threat to national security.

– Feb. 2, 2018 @ 13:32 GMT |