The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced the amicable resolution of the interconnect debt dispute between MTN Nigeria and Globacom Limited.
In a statement released on Thursday by the Director of Public Affairs Department in Abuja, the NCC confirmed the resolution, which comes after a series of developments.
Initially, on January 8, 2024, the NCC granted MTN permission to begin the phased disconnection of Glo, effective from January 18, 2024, citing the long-standing debt dispute.
However, on January 18, the NCC suspended the partial disconnection for 21 days, starting from January 17, 2024.
With the recent resolution, the NCC has withdrawn the approval granted to MTN for disconnecting Globacom, emphasizing the importance of avoiding disruptions to subscribers’ connections.
To prevent future instances of interconnect indebtedness in the industry, the NCC plans to request relevant records and regular updates from Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) while adopting a transparent approach to address industry indebtedness.
The statement reads: “Following its 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.
“The commission reiterates that 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.”
