The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has again set out to educate and sentise telecom users in Nigeria about the harmonization of all shortcodes in the country.
According to a statement on the commission’s official Facebook page, the latest move on Harmonise Short Codes (HSC) is aimed at sensitising the subscribers on the existence and usage of the codes.
It would be recalled the commission ordered that all mobile networks be fully migrated from hitherto diverse shortcodes to harmonised codes, and this has been adhered to by the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) since then, almost a year ago, precisely, on 17 May 2023.
The Harmonised Short Codes include: Call Centre/Help Desk: 300, Super Code to check all Common, Codes: *301#, Voice Mail Deposit retrieval: 302, Borrow Services: *303#, STOP Services: *305, Check Balance: *310#
Others are: Credit Recharge: 311PIN#, Data Plan: *312#, Shared Services: *321#, Data Plan Balance: *323#, Verification of SIM Registration/NIN-SIM Linkage: *996, DND (Do-Not-Disturb): 2442, Porting Services (Mobile Number Portability): 3232, Super Short Code: *301#
The NCC says the USSD Super Short Code *301# is a Super Short Code to provide more information on all other common Short Codes and Services
The initiative of the harmonised Short Code is in line with NCC’s regulatory modernisation programme, which 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 policy will provide an 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.
