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Niger’s telecommunications sector is currently at the center of a massive scandal. In-depth investigations have revealed that the country’s main private operators were involved in a large-scale scam known as “international call bypassing.” This illegal practice costs the Nigerien government billions of CFA francs each year, while compromising the quality of service provided to consumers and creating unfair competition with the country’s public operator, Niger Telecom.
Sovereignty at risk
This fraud goes far beyond a simple economic issue; it strikes at the heart of Niger’s sovereignty. By circumventing state control systems, private operators have gained the right to manage international traffic without state oversight, creating a massive security hole in the country’s communications.
Fraud Mechanism
At the heart of this fraud is a sophisticated technique called “CLI spoofing,” or caller ID manipulation. Private operators use equipment such as simboxes, gray routing, and TDM routing to pass off international calls as local calls. Specifically, when an international call arrives in Niger, it is intercepted and redirected so that it appears as a local call on the Nigerien network. This practice enables operators to avoid paying legitimate international taxes and tariffs, depriving the country of a vital resource.
The scale of the problem
The data analyzed shows that this practice is systematic and widespread among private operators. In just ten days in June 2024, thousands of suspicious calls were detected. All major private operators are involved, albeit to varying degrees. One of them appears to be the biggest offender, with hundreds of suspicious entries, while others also have large numbers of suspicious calls.
Financial impact and consequences for the country
The recent reintroduction of the Termination Tax on Inbound International Traffic (TATTIE) appears to have exacerbated the problem. In order to avoid this tax, private operators have stepped up their fraudulent practices. The losses to the Nigerien government are enormous. Although exact figures remain to be determined, the experience of other African countries such as Cameroon, where similar losses are estimated at billions of CFA francs, indicates the extent of the losses. These funds, which should have been used to develop infrastructure and improve public services, are instead diverted to the benefit of private operators.
Impact on consumers and Niger Telecom
This fraudulent practice is not limited to a simple tax issue. It has a direct impact on the quality of service provided to Nigerien consumers and on the competitive position of Niger Telecom: Call quality: Calls routed through these illegal routes are often of poor quality, with sound issues and frequent interruptions, which adversely affects users; Security and privacy: Using fake local numbers to make international calls poses security and call tracing issues that could compromise national security; Unfair competition: This practice creates unfair competition for Niger Telecom, which respects the rules and pays the appropriate taxes. As a result, the public operator finds itself at a disadvantage in the market, despite its commitment to comply with regulations; Underinvestment in infrastructure: This fraudulent practice diverts revenue that could have been invested in improving the country’s telecommunications infrastructure, delaying the development of the national network; Artificially low rates: By evading these taxes, private operators can offer artificially low rates, distorting the market and placing unfair pressure on Niger Telecom.
Regulatory authorities inaction
Despite the scale of the problem, the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Postal Services (ARCEP) appears to have been slow to respond. This inaction has allowed fraud to flourish, to the detriment of the state, Nigerien consumers and Niger Telecom. The lack of strict controls and dissuasive sanctions has created an environment conducive to these illegal practices, ultimately harming the national economy.
Call to Action
Faced with this alarming situation, several measures are necessary: A thorough official investigation must be carried out to determine the exact extent of the fraud and identify all those involved, with a focus on the practices of private operators; Severe sanctions must be imposed on operators found to have committed these fraudulent practices, including heavy fines and possible suspension of their operating licenses; ARCEP must strengthen its control and surveillance mechanisms to prevent future fraudulent practices, paying particular attention to the activities of private operators; The legislative framework must be strengthened to close the loopholes exploited by fraudsters and protect the interests of Niger Telecom and consumers; Awareness-raising campaigns must be carried out among consumers to inform them of their rights, ways to report suspicious calls and the importance of supporting the national operator, Niger Telecom; Support measures should be developed for Niger Telecom to compensate it for the losses caused by this unfair competition and allow it to continue investing in national infrastructure.
This massive fraud orchestrated by private operators has caused not only economic losses but also damage. It is a real attack on Niger’s sovereignty. It is the patriotic duty of every citizen, authority and state institution to mobilize to put an end to these practices that undermine the independence and security of our country.
As consumers, we must remain vigilant in demanding transparency and integrity from our phone operators and support Niger Telecom in its mission to provide quality service while respecting national laws. The future of Niger Telecom, and the country’s economic development, depends on our ability to stamp out these fraudulent practices and level the playing field for all market players.
The investigation is still ongoing and we may return to the details of this scam in our next publication.
Rabbi Koye (The Messenger)
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