It was a big fight that threatened to upend the telecoms sector as two prime players were embroiled in a dispute that threatened the calls and messages of millions of subscribers on the two networks. MTN insisted it was owed by Glo and wanted the money paid up in order to forestall a break in connection for Glo subscribers who had MTN lines to call.
The good news, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, regulator of the telecoms space in Nigeria, is that the matter has been amicably resolved by both parties. And for this reason, the disconnection approval it earlier granted to MTN for the disconnection of Globacom has now been withdrawn.
The NCC had been unrelenting towards ensuring that at the end of the day, regulatory intervention measures were brought to bear with the aim of mitigating any potential disruptions by mediating between the parties and facilitating the reconciliation process.
In a press release signed by Reuben Muoka, the NCC Director of Public Affairs, the Commission reiterated that strict adherence to the terms and conditions of licenses, particularly those delineated in interconnection agreements, is imperative for all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and other licensees within the telecommunications industry.
And in order to proactively address and prevent future instances of interconnect indebtedness within the industry, the Commission will, on an ongoing basis, be requesting relevant records and regular updates from MNOs, as well as adopting a transparent approach towards industry indebtedness.
This is all in line with the Commission’s commitment to fostering a stable and compliant telecommunications ecosystem in Nigeria. Job well done.
