310 for Check Balance, 323 is for Data Plan Balance and 311 for Credit Recharge.
In line with its
consumer-centric approach to telecom regulation the Nigerian Communications
Commission (NCC) has directed mobile network operators (MNOs) to commence
implementation of approved harmonised short codes (HSC) for providing certain
services to telecom consumers in Nigeria.
The Commission has
already set a deadline of May 17, 2023, for all mobile networks to fully
migrate from hitherto diverse short codes to the harmonised codes.
The use of harmonised
short codes is aimed at achieving uniformity in common short codes across
networks. This means that the code for checking airtime balance is the same
across all mobile networks for the same function, irrespective of the network a
consumer uses.
With the new codes, the
telecom consumers using the over 226 million active mobile lines in the
country, can now use the same codes to access services across the networks.
Consequently, under the
new harmonised short codes regime, 13 common short codes have been approved by
the Commission. They include the following codes: 300 to be used as the
harmonised code for Call Centre/Help Desk on all mobile networks; 301 for voice
Mail Deposit; 302 for Voice Mail Retrieval; 303 for Borrow Services; 305 for
STOP Service; 310 for Check Balance, and 311 for Credit Recharge.
Also, the common code
for Data Plan across networks is now 312. In line with the new direction, 321
is for Share Services, while 323 is for Data Plan Balance. The code, 996, is
now for Verification of Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration/NIN-SIM
Linkage. The code, 2442, is retained for Do-Not-Disturb (DND) unsolicited
messaging complaint management, while the common code, 3232, is also reatained
for Porting Services, otherwise called Mobile Number Portability.
The old and new
harmonised short codes will run concurrently up until the May 17, 2023, when
all networks are expected to have fully migrated to full implementation of the
new codes. The period between now and
May 17, 2023 is provided by the NCC to enable telecom consumers to familiarise
themselves with the new codes for various services.
The initiative, which
is in line with NCC’s regulatory modernisation programme, is essentially to
make life much easier for telecom consumers, as it is now easier for Nigerians
to memorise single codes for various services across all mobile networks they
may be using, thereby improving consumer quality of experience (QoE).
In addition, the new
policy will provide opportunity for licensees in the Value-Added Services (VAS)
segment of the telecoms sector to be able to use freed-up/old codes for other
services, as well as enhance cohesive regulatory framework in keeping with
world-class practices.
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| New short codes for all Networks and Banks in Nigeria |
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