Nigeria’s two leading mobile network operators (MNOs), MTN Nigeria and Globacom Limited, have resolved their dispute, the telecoms regulator that intervened in the debt crisis has said.
Mr Reuben Muoka, spokesman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), who announced the resolution of the interconnect dispute that warranted the intervention of the telecoms regulatory agency also promised to improve the industry’s playing field.
NCC intervened, Muoka said, to mediate and facilitate the reconciliation process, a development that prevented a threatened disconnection of Globacom subscribers from making calls to MTN. If the threat had been carried out, the disconnection would have affected over 61 million mobile subscribers, potentially disrupting communication for millions of other Nigerian phone subscribers.
Recalling events, the NCC had issued a pre-disconnection notice on January 8, 2024, granting approval to MTN Nigeria to commence the phased disconnection of Glo with effect from January 18, 2024, “due to a longstanding interconnect debt issue between both parties.”
Recalling events, the NCC had issued a pre-disconnection notice on January 8, 2024, granting approval to MTN Nigeria to commence the phased disconnection of Glo with effect from January 18, 2024, “due to a longstanding interconnect debt issue between both parties.”
On the 17th, the telecoms released a statement announcing that both parties have reached an agreement to solve all outstanding issues between them. Hence, the phased disconnection was put on hold for a period of 21 days starting from 17th January 2024.
NCC said that interconnect debts must be settled by “all operating companies as a necessary component towards compliance with regulatory obligations of all licensees. It is obligatory that Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and other licensees in the telecoms industry keep to the terms and conditions of their licences, especially as contained in their interconnection agreements.”
On February 8th 2024, Mouka, NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, said that, “the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is pleased to announce that the interconnect dispute between MTN Nigeria Communications Plc. (MTN) and Globacom Limited (Globacom) has been amicably resolved.”
According to him, “in accordance with this resolution, the disconnection approval granted to MTN for the disconnection of Globacom has now been withdrawn.”
The NCC underscored the importance of adhering to licensing terms and conditions, particularly those relating to interconnection agreements by MNOs, and other licensees within the telecoms industry.
To prevent future debt issues, the commission will request regular updates and relevant records from MNOs as well “as adopting a transparent approach towards industry indebtedness,” Mouka said.
