By Geraldine Horsfall (ICT Reporter)
A unified USSD codes for mobile operators in the country have just been approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
According to the Commission, the new codes, called Harmonized Short Codes (HSC), will work across all mobile networks in the Nigeria, and will enable the network operators to be using same customer care number and same code for recharge of credit and for checking data balances, among others.
The NCC explained that the 996 code will be used, henceforth, for SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) verification and Registration/NIN-SIM linkage.
The Code 2442, is retained for Do-Not-Disturb (DND) unsolicited messaging complaint management, while the common Code 3232, is also retained for porting services, otherwise called Mobile Number Portability.
The NCC stated that the old and new HSC (Harmonised Short Codes) will operate concurrently up till May 17 2023, when all the networks would have migrated to full implementation of the new codes.
Below, are the unified USSD codes for all the operating mobile networks in the country:
Call Centre: 300
Borrow Services: *303#
Stop Service: *305#
Check Balance: *310#
Credit Recharge: *311#
Data Plan: *312#
Data plan balance: *323#
Share Services: *321#
DND: 2442
Porting services: 3232
NIN Verification and NIN-SIM Linkage: *996#. NNL.