The Nigerian Communications Commission (“NCC”) has released a new set of conditions for telecom operators offering Closed User Group (“CUG”) Services in the country. CUG services are a type of telecom service that allow mobile subscribers to send text messages or make and receive calls from any member associated within the group or other subscribers outside the CUG at a subsidized, discounted or fixed fee. The CUG configuration provides certain benefits and limits access to these services to the defined set of group members.

Under the NCC’s newly released conditions, CUG services may be offered to subscribers in the following entities: Large Corporate Organizations, Government; Not-For-Profit Organizations; Duly registered Residential Estate Associations; Trade Associations; and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Telecom operators are also mandated to abide by a number of other notable conditions including: