NCC Extends Disconnection Date for Glo to Pay MTN Interconnect Debt

The earlier announced phased disconnection of Globacom customers from making calls to MTN lines have been extended by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) by additional 21 days.

The telecoms regulator had on January 8, 2024 published a Pre-Disconnection Notice informing subscribers of the approval granted to MTN Nigerian Communications Plc. (MTN) to commence disconnection of Glo with effect from January 18, 2024 due to long-standing interconnection debt dispute between the parties.

In a statement signed by the Commission’s director of public affairs, Reuben Mouka, NCC expected MTN and Glo to resolve all outstanding issues within the 21-day period.

NCC also noted that giving the disconnection approval was only necessary for compliance to ensure that operators honour the terms of interconnection agreement, stressing that it was well aware of the impact of such actions on telecoms consumers.

“In granting the approval, the Commission was deeply conscious of the potential impacts of the decision on consumers and therefore continued to engage both parties to facilitate a resolution which prioritizes and protects consumer interest and the seamless operation of the national telecoms network.

“The Commission is pleased to announce that the parties have now reached agreement to resolve all outstanding issues between them.

“For this reason, and in exercise of its regulatory powers in that regard, the Commission has put the phased disconnection on hold for a period of 21 (twenty-one) days from today, 17 January, 2024,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, NCC insisted that interconnect debts must be settled by all operating companies as a necessary component towards compliance with regulatory obligations of all licensees.

“It is OBLIGATORY that Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and other licensees in the telecom industry keep to the terms and conditions of their licenses, especially as contained in their interconnection agreements,” it said.

According to sources close to the matter, the interconnect charges, which started over 15 years ago, have now accumulated into billions of naira, which MTN and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) can no longer ignore.