The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has revealed that the processing for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) Short Codes takes one week.
However, the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) Short Codes are issued only to those licensed to provide the Value Added Services.
The executive vice chairman of NCC, Professor Umar Danbatta represented by NCC Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity (TSNI) Bako Wakil, stated this while receiving a delegation from Radio Television Prestigious Awards (RTPWN) that paid a courtesy visit to NCC.
The RTPWN, an organization that offers awards to radio and television broadcasters across Africa visited the commission to request for short codes. But the EVC said the organisation is not in the category of those eligible to apply for the code.
He stated that short codes can be processed within a week and if the RTPWN is really in need of short code, it must obtain a VAS licence from the commission before applying for short code. He said, although a VAS license may take a bit longer because of the processes involved.
He therefore advised that if RTPWN requires the short code immediately, it may wish to approach any VAS licensee for negotiation in order to use the licensee’s short code.
In his response, managing director of RTPWN Dr Samuel Wilcox, commended the NCC’s leadership and informed the commission that RTPWN is planning another radio and television awards to merited broadcasters to be decided through public polls in Nigeria using quick codes to get network subscribers opinions.
He also said RTPWN had earlier organised similar awards in Ghana, Kenya and some other countries and considered it important to organise a more befitting event in Nigeria, its home base in order to honour deserving Nigerian broadcasters in the news and entertainment industry.
