The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has suspended the disconnection approval granted to MTN Nigerian Communications Plc to commence the phase disconnection of subscribers of Globacom Limited (Glo) as a result of a long-standing interconnection debt dispute between the two network providers.
NCC Director, Public Affairs, Reuben Mouka, in a statement, said the parties have reached an agreement to resolve all outstanding issues between them, stating that in the exercise of its regulatory powers, the Commission has put the phased disconnection on hold for a period of 21 days from Wednesday, January 17, 2024.
The statement reads:
“On January 8, 2024 the Nigerian Communications Commission published a Pre-Disconnection Notice informing subscribers of the approval granted to MTN Nigerian Communications Plc. (MTN) to commence the phased disconnection of Globacom Limited (Glo) with effect from January 18, 2024, due to a 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 that prioritizes and protects consumer interest and the seamless operation of the national telecoms network.
“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 a period of 21 (twenty-one) days from today, 17 January, 2024.
“Whilst the Commission expects MTN and Glo to resolve all outstanding issues within 21 days, the Commission insists that interconnect debts must be settled by all operating companies as a necessary component towards compliance with the regulatory obligations of all licensees. It is OBLIGATORY that Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and other licensees in the telecom industry keep to the terms and conditions of their licenses, especially as contained in their interconnection agreements.”
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