The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved 13 harmonised shortcodes (HSC) for all telecom providers in Nigeria. The NCC made this known on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, in a press statement released on its official website.
What this simply means is that going forward, MTN, GLO, Airtel, and 9mobile users in Nigeria will now be able to use unified codes to access services on their chosen networks.
The shortcode for each service you want is now the same, there’s no need to say because you are on MTN you must use this number, if you are using Airtel, you must use another number. The era of that has passed, thanks to NCC unified shortcodes!
What is Unified or Harmonised Shortcode?
Unified or harmonised shortcodes are designed to help make telecommunication services easier and less burdensome for both the users and the network providers. What this means is that you have unified numbers to access services on your mobile phone irrespective of your network provider.
Breaking it down further, it means that users of MTN, Airtel, 9mobile, and Glo mobile networks will carry out the services their individual network providers provide with the same shortcodes.
“For instance, if you want to recharge your mobile phone instead of using the shortcode for MTN, you will now use a unified shortcode that will equally work and do the same work for other networks.
What are the New Unified Shortcodes?
Here is the full list of the NCC unified shortcodes to use:
| Harmonised Service | NCC Unified Code |
|---|---|
| Call Centre | 300 |
| Credit Recharge | *311# |
| Check Balance | *310# |
| Data Plan | *312# |
| Data Plan Balance | *323# |
| Stop Services | *305# |
| Borrow Services | *303# |
| Voice Mail Deposit | *301# |
| Voice Mail Retrieval | *302# |
| Share Services | *321# |
| Verification of SIM (Registration / NIN-SIM Linkage) | *996# |
| DND (Do Not Disturb) | *2442# |
| Porting Services (Mobile Number Portability) | *3232# |
What will I do to start using these codes?
You don’t have to do anything! The above codes as at the time of writing this are working across MTN, Glo, Airtel and 9mobile.
When will mobile networks start the implementation?
As earlier mentioned the implementation had already begun and all you need to do is master the above numbers and start using them irrespective of what network you are using.
How to use
Let’s take 312 for an Airtel user who wants to buy data plan, all he does is to dial *312# to access other options such as:
1. My offer
2. Data bundles
3. N5000/22GB/30 days
4. N3000/11GB/30days
5. N1500/6GB/7days
6. N500/2.5GB/2 days
7. Family plan
8. Everyday ON
*Next
The above procedure applies to MTN, Glo or 9mobile when you dial *312# .
What will happen to the old shortcodes?
The NCC gave May 17, 2023 as the deadline for mobile network operators to implement the approved shortcodes. However, the unified numbers and the existing shortcodes for each network number will run concurrently till a year March 14, 2024 when they will be phased out.
Benefits of harmonized shortcodes
This initiative no doubt 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.
- Other benefits inculde:
- Mobile-friendly
- Brand Recognition
- Text Messaging Marketing Campaigns
- Customer Engagement
- Portable
- Scaleable
- Easy to Remember and Use
About the NCC
The Nigerian Communications Commission is the independent National Regulatory Authority for the telecommunications industry in Nigeria. The Commission is responsible for creating an enabling environment for competition among operators in the industry as well as ensuring the provision of qualitative and efficient telecommunications services throughout the country.
