NCC Introduces N10 Million Licence Fee for Bulk SMS

Companies sending bulk international text messages, also known as Application-to-Person (A2P) messages, will now have to apply for a licence costing N10 million.

This is part of new rules introduced by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) aimed at cleaning up the system, fighting fraud, blocking spam messages, and stopping money from leaving the country unchecked.

These A2P messages are the kind customers get from banks, online stores, hospitals, and political campaigns — automated texts sent from apps to their phones.

According to the commission, the bulk international text message system has been poorly regulated, allowing misuse and invasion of privacy. “The International SMS Service Ecosystem in Nigeria has not been fully brought under regulatory control. It has been observed that the excessive use of the Short Message Service has led to fraud, spam and illegal activities,” the NCC said.

The regulator warned that without action, the problem would worsen as more people use mobile phones and digital services.

Central SMS Gateway and Stricter Monitoring

To solve this, the NCC is creating a central platform, or gateway, through which all international bulk text messages must pass. The agency said this would help to monitor messages in real time, ensure proper fees are paid, and make sure the money stays in Nigeria where it can contribute to the economy.

As part of the incoming change, service providers must follow strict rules, including strong data protection, spam filters, and message encryption. They must also work with local mobile networks and make sure all messages come from a verified sender.

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The NCC warned that any message without a proper sender ID will be blocked and not delivered to users.

User Consent and Transparency Requirements

To protect users from unwanted texts, the new rules say companies must get clear permission before sending any promotional content. The rule also says people must be able to choose whether they want to receive such messages or not.

Companies are now required to keep records of all messages for at least six months and must clearly state all charges involved. The NCC said fees for help requests, cancellations, or service info must be transparent and not include hidden charges.

Encouraging Competition, Controlling Market Size

The commission will issue licences to several providers to encourage healthy competition but may limit new licences if needed.