NCA clamps down on substandard telecom devices

The National Communication Authority (NCA) has told stakeholders of the industry -- dealers, manufacturers and importers of radio and telecommunication terminal equipment -- it will be mandatory from the second quarter of the year to get a regulatory licence to import equipment into the country.

The move is intended to ensure that telecommunication equipment and related devices imported into the country meet some specific technical and safety requirements set by the Authority.

This will protect the safety of the public and users of these devices. It is further intended to ensure the efficient use of radio frequency spectrums, and to facilitate interoperable use of equipment on public networks.

Given the extent of development that has taken place within the country’s telecommunication sector, it is expected that the initiative will rid the country of the large volumes of substandard or counterfeit telecommunication equipment and devices that are sometimes imported into the country.

Mr. Isaac Boateng, Manager of the Regulatory Administration Division of NCA, told B&FT that plans are in place to institute a taskforce to embark on market surveillance and monitoring activities -- after commencement of the Type Approval licencing -- as part of the processes to ensure compliance by dealers and importers.

He maintained that those who flout this new regulation will be firmly dealt with, given that the activities of the NCA are fully backed by the laws of the state. He said the principal objective of the initiative is to protect the Ghanaian public from unnecessary health and safety implications, and not in any way to unsettle the mobile phone business or market.

Addressing participants at a sensitisation workshop organised by the NCA in Kumasi, Mr. Boateng entreated dealers, network assemblers and importers to endeavour to cross-check from the office of the NCA to know the devices that have been type-approved before going ahead to import them into the country.

This, he said, will help to avoid confiscation or seizure of mobile and telecommunication devices which do not meet the requirements.

By Kizito CUDJOE | B&FT Online | Ghana