By Stanley Iwuoha
Expectedly, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has mediated in the lingering interconnect debt dispute between MTN Nigeria Communications Plc. (MTN) and Globacom Limited (Globacom), bringing the issue to an amicable end.
The Commission announced this in a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka on Thursday.
Following this development, Muoka said the disconnection approval granted to MTN for the disconnection of Globacom has now been withdrawn.
Sequel to its initial Public Notice, he informed that the Commission had taken regulatory intervention, by mediating between the parties and facilitating the reconciliation process with the aim of mitigating any potential disruptions to subscribers.
“The Commission reiterated on 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.
“In order to proactively address and prevent future instances of interconnect indebtedness within the industry, the Commission will be requesting relevant records and regular updates from MNOs, as well as adopting a transparent approach towards industry indebtedness,” he said.
However, Muoka explained that, “this statement serves as a reminder of the Commission’s commitment to fostering a stable and compliant telecommunications ecosystem in Nigeria.”
