Telecommunications company MTN Nigeria has rolled out new USSD codes for its service plans following the directive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) instructing telecom companies to introduce uniform codes.
MTN seems to have led the charge in the rollout of harmonized short USSD codes as the popular code *556# which subscribers use to check account balance is no longer functional.
Several MTN users have disclosed on social media platforms that on dialing the old code (*556#), they were met with a message which reads, “Seems you dialed the wrong code”, and they are then shown the new codes for different services. To check account balance users are now mandated to use the new USSD code *310#.
Here are the newly launched USSD codes which will be unified for all mobile networks in Nigeria
1.) Call Centre – *300#
2.) Borrow Airtime – *303#
3.) Airtime Recharge – *311#
4.) Check Data Balance – *323#
5.) Share Data – *321#
6.) Data Plan – *312#
7.) For VAS – *305#
8.) NIN Verification and NIN-SIM Linkage – *996#
9.) Porting Services (MNP) – *2442#
The primary argument for the harmonization of USSD codes amongst telecom companies in Nigeria is that it will enable easy memorization and a more cohesive regulatory environment. Through this process, the NCC seeks to replicate global best practices in the Nigerian telecommunications space.
The new policy also allows licensees in the Value-Added Services (VAS) segment of the telecoms sector to be able to use freed-up/old codes for other services
Investors King understands that the rollout of harmonized short USSD codes will simplify the process for subscribers to use these services irrespective of the network they use. Considering that most subscribers in Nigeria use multiple networks, this will help a great deal to simplify the process for them.
The Commission has already set a deadline of May 17, 2023, for all mobile networks to fully migrate from hitherto diverse shortcodes to harmonised codes. During migration, old and new common codes will run concurrently, after which the old codes will cease to operate.