MTN Nigeria Communications Plc. and Globacom Limited have amicably resolved the interconnect debts that pitted the telecoms giants against each other, the telecoms industry regulator, which stepped into the dispute has confirmed.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which did not disclose the terms of the settlements between the two leading mobile network operators in the country that were locked in a disputed interconnect debt that warranted the intervention of the industry regulator.
As of year-end 2023, the two telecoms majors represented significant market share as MTN, with 87,038,768 active subscribers controlled 38.79% of mobile voice market while Glo, with 61,604,576, controlled 27.45% when the market segment that totaled 224,713,710 active lines, according to official market information from NCC.
As of year-end 2023, the two telecoms majors represented significant market share as MTN, with 87,038,768 active subscribers controlled 38.79% of mobile voice market while Glo, with 61,604,576, controlled 27.45% when the market segment that totaled 224,713,710 active lines.
“The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is pleased to announce that the interconnect debt dispute between MTN Nigeria Communications Plc. (MTN) and Globacom Limited (Globacom) has been amicably resolved,” Mr Reuben Muoka, Public Affairs Director at the telecoms regulatory agency said in a statement. NCC said that the statement “serves as a reminder of the Commission’s commitment to fostering a stable and compliant telecommunications ecosystem in Nigeria.”
The regulator also confirmed that “in accordance with this resolution, the disconnection approval granted to MTN for the disconnection of Globacom has now been withdrawn.”
According to Muoka, following NCC’s initial Public Notice, “the Commission with the aim of mitigating any potential disruptions to subscribers undertook further regulatory intervention, by mediating between the parties and facilitating the reconciliation process.”
According to the NCC spokesman, “The Commission reiterates that strict adherence to the terms and conditions of licences, particularly those delineated in interconnection agreements, is imperative for all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and other licensees within the telecommunications industry.”
Muoka also said that, “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.”
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