The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed mobile network operators (MNOs) in line with its consumer-centric approach to telecommunication regulation, has directed mobile network operators (MNOs) to commence implementation of approved harmonised shortcakes (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 shortcodes to harmonised codes.
The use of harmonised shortcodes is aimed at achieving uniformity in common shortcakes 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 shortcodes regime, 13 common short codes have been approved by the Commission. They include the following:
