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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has opted to suspend its initial plan to restrict Glo subscribers from calling MTN lines for a period of 21 days. NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Mouka, stated in a Thursday announcement that this decision was made following an agreement between the telecommunications companies to address all outstanding issues.
Earlier, the regulatory body had approved MTN Nigerian Communications Plc. to initiate the phased disconnection of Globacom Limited, starting from January 18, 2024, due to a prolonged interconnection debt dispute. However, in the latest directive, NCC specified the suspension of the partial disconnection for 21 days, effective January 18, 2024.
The statement from NCC highlighted, “The commission is pleased to announce that the parties have now reached an agreement to resolve all outstanding issues between them. For this reason, and in the exercise of its regulatory powers in that regard, the commission has put the phased disconnection on hold for 21 days from today, January 17, 2024.”
Acknowledging the potential impact on consumers, the NCC emphasized its commitment to facilitating a resolution that prioritizes consumer interests and ensures the smooth operation of the national telecoms network.
The Commission anticipates MTN and Glo to resolve all outstanding issues within the designated 21-day period, emphasizing the imperative settlement of interconnect debts by all operating companies to comply with regulatory obligations. The NCC acknowledges the potential impact on consumers due to its approval for disconnection.
In the extension notice, the NCC underscores the importance for mobile network operators and other licensees in the telecom industry to strictly adhere to the terms and conditions outlined in their licences, particularly those specified in their interconnection agreements.
