NCA to conduct quarterly data billing audits – Sam George

Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has directed the National Communications Authority (NCA) to intensify its oversight of mobile data billing systems by conducting quarterly integrity tests.

Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Tuesday, June 10, the Minister addressed public concerns about alleged data losses and arbitrary billing by telecom operators.

He said a recent assessment conducted by the NCA in the third quarter of 2024 revealed no evidence of such issues across major operators—MTN, Telecel, and AirtelTigo.

Mr. George stated, ” It has also come to my notice that there is a public call regarding the arbitrary change in data prices by the Operators. Let me state for the record that the facts do not support that claim. The National Communications Authority has a billing verification system to assess the billing integrity of mobile data services. The NCA reports that in the last billing integrity test conducted on mobile data bundles for MTN, Telecel and AT in Q3 of 2024, it was found that: All data bundles purchased during the test period were correctly credited and remained intact throughout their validity, with no unexpected data loss. Non-expiry data bundles did not expire. All unused data bundles were rolled over after re-subscription.

To enhance transparency and consumer trust, the Minister has instructed the NCA to expand its testing protocols to include data usage scenarios involving popular apps and websites—areas where consumers frequently report unexplained data depletion.

The directive forms part of a broader initiative to ensure telecom consumers get fair value for money and are protected from potential billing anomalies.

“The NCA is hereby directed to conduct billing integrity tests for data services and to provide quarterly reports to the Ministry. The NCA must check data billing for scenarios involving popular apps and websites. If operators are found to be billing inaccurately, appropriate sanctions shall be applied.”