…Halts Phased Disconnection Of Globacom Limited
By Kingsley I. Ilechukwu, Bureau Chief, South West
Telecommunications regulatory authority, The Nigerian Communications Commission(NCC) has announced that MTN Nigerian Communications Plc. And Globacom Limited have now reached agreement to resolve all outstanding interconnect issues between them, saying that for this reason and in exercise of its regulatory powers in that regard, the Commission has put the phased disconnection on hold for a period of 21 (twenty-one) days from Thursday, January 17, 2024.
This is contained in a press statement at the disposal of Cyber Era NG issued by the Director of Public Affairs(DPA) Reuben Muoka
Recall that on January 8, 2024 the Commission published a Pre-Disconnection Notice informing subscribers of the approval granted to MTN to commence the phased disconnection of Glo with effect from January 18, 2024 due to long-standing interconnection debt dispute between the parties.
“In granting the approval, the Commission was deeply conscious of the potential impacts of the decision on consumers and therefore continued to engage both parties to facilitate a resolution which prioritizes and protects consumer interest and the seamless operation of the national telecoms network,” stated NCC.
Addressing media hounds yesterday at a luncheon, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer(EVC/CEO) at NCC, Dr. Aminu Maina restated that whilst the Commission expected MTN and Glo to resolve all outstanding issues within the 21-day period, the Commission insisted that interconnect debts must be settled by all operating companies as a necessary component towards compliance with regulatory obligations of all licensee, emphasizing that it was obligatory that Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and other licensees in the telecom industry kept to the terms and conditions of their licenses, especially as contained in their interconnection agreements.
