The Nigerian Communications Commission is set to advise Globacom subscribers on the next steps following the expiration of its grace period for the barring of their lines from making calls to MTN lines over non-settlement of interconnect charges.
On January 8, the NCC in a public notice signed by the Director, Public Affairs Department, Reuben Muoka, disclosed that it has granted partial approval for the disconnection of Globacom from MTN Nigeria Communications Plc.
It said, “The commission has approved the partial disconnection of Globacom to MTN in accordance with Section 100 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 and Paragraph 9 of the guidelines on procedure for granting approval to disconnect telecommunications operators, 2012.”
It noted that at the expiration of 10 days from the date of its notice, “subscribers of Globacom will no longer be able to make calls to MTN but will be able to receive calls.
“The partial disconnection, however, will allow in-bound calls to Globacom network.” It stressed that the disconnection would subsist until otherwise determined by it.
As the deadline ends today, The PUNCH reached out to the Director, Public Affairs Department, Reuben Muoka, to confirm if the disconnection will happen especially since Glo has stated that it has paid.
Muoka said, “We will come out with some information about that. Most likely today, in the next few hours.” NCC.”
Interconnect fee is the price that telecom operators pay each other for calls terminating on their networks.
When news broke that the company has yet to pay its interconnect fees, one source close to Glo who spoke anonymously told The PUNCH, “We paid last week Thursday within the window allowed. So, it is surprising that this is happening. We made outstanding payments already.”
A source close to the matter to The PUNCH on Wednesday that the National Assembly has waded into the matter. The source confirmed that Glo has paid most of its debt and the NCC should issue a resolution soon.
The source who spoke anonymously said, “It has not been resolved. The NCC has waded in, and they are waiting for the resolution. They (MTN) are still waiting for the NCC to tell them what to do. Even, the National Assembly has called the two firms. The owing party has paid a substantial part of what they owe. But they are still owing for the interest accrued and VAT remittance.
“The interest is what is forming some dispute. They have paid what is mostly outstanding.”
MTN and Glo have been at it when it comes to interconnect fees. In 2019, acting upon a directive from the NCC, MTN briefly disconnected Glo subscribers over a N4bn debt.
