The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has given Globacom Limited an extension to settle its interconnectivity dispute with MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, as announced by Dr. Reuben Mouka, the Director of Public Affairs of the NCC.
In a statement released on Thursday, Mouka revealed that the NCC had initially granted approval for MTN to commence phased disconnection of Globacom due to a long-standing interconnection debt dispute. The pre-disconnection notice was published on January 8, 2024, with the disconnection set to take effect from January 18, 2024.
However, Mouka noted that both parties have reached an agreement to resolve all outstanding issues. In consideration of the potential impact on consumers and with the aim of prioritizing consumer interests and the seamless operation of the national telecoms network, the NCC has decided to put the phased disconnection on hold for a period of 21 days from January 17, 2024.
While expecting MTN and Glo to resolve all outstanding issues within the stipulated 21-day period, the NCC emphasized the importance of settling interconnect debts by all operating companies as a necessary component for compliance with regulatory obligations. The commission urged Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and other licensees in the telecom industry to adhere to the terms and conditions of their licenses, especially those outlined in their interconnection agreements.
