NCC grants MTN, 9mobile approval for e-SIM trial
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the independent regulatory authority for the telecommunications industry in Nigeria, has finally granted MTN and 9mobile the permission to carry out the long-awaited trial on the achievable workability of the proposed e-SIM (Embedded Subscriber Identification Modules) service in Nigeria. An eSIM is a digital SIM that allows you to activate a cellular plan from a carrier without having to use a physical SIM card.
According to MTN, “The eSIM trial will run for one year and is open on a first come first served basis to a limited number of subscribers who own compatible devices. You’ll need to visit any of our MTN stores. Our customer care agents will check your device for eligibility and walk you through the setup process.”
The trial which will involve the testing of 5,000 e-SIMs, would still be subject to full monitoring and regulatory compliance.
NCC said: “Full compliance by the two mobile network operators (MNOs), with the Registration of Telecoms Subscribers Regulations 2011; the Mobile Number Portability Regulations and Business Rules 2015; Guidelines on SIM Replacement 2017; and non-degradation of the Quality of Service (QoS) experience by users of e-SIMs.”
Executive vice chairman, NCC, Prof Umar Danbatta , explained that the primary objective of the e-SIM trial is to assess the technical performance of the e-SIM on telecoms service providers’ network towards eventual rollout, if satisfactory.
Layi Onafowokan, 9mobile’s Acting Director earlier this year said: “eSIM enables multiple usage and adaptation of one subscriber profile across a broad range of mobile communication devices, internet of things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) applications including smart commuting, metering, tracking, and surveillance, rather than the restricted single-device use of the conventional SIM card.”
The e-SIM enables users to store multiple profiles and change operators remotely straight from their phone, without having to acquire a new SIM card.
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