NCC Launches Device Verification to Combat Fake Phones

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has launched an electronic verification system for SIM-enabled devices to identify and block fake, cloned, and non-compliant phones, modems, and point-of-sale (PoS) terminals from connecting to telecommunications networks. Edoyemi Ogoh, the NCC’s director of technical standards and network integrity, announced this initiative during a news conference.

The system aims to strengthen consumer protection, improve network performance, and ensure compliance with established technical standards. Devices already in stock have been onboarded, while future imports will undergo verification.

The initiative follows the issuance of the NCC’s type approval business rules in August 2024 and consultations with various stakeholders. Ogoh emphasized that consumers should verify the type approval status of devices before purchasing.

The system will retain device identification details for regulatory purposes but will not monitor users or access private information. The NCC's actions are grounded in Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.