By Moses Okorie
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced that the interconnect debt dispute between MTN Nigeria Communications Plc. (MTN) and Globacom Limited (Globacom) has been amicably resolved.
In a release signed by Reuben Muoka, director, Public Affairs of NCC on Thursday said the settlement was made in strict adherence to the terms and conditions of licenses, particularly those delineated in interconnection agreements for all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).
“In accordance with this resolution, the disconnection approval granted to MTN for the disconnection of Globacom has now been withdrawn.
“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”, NCC said.
NCC said 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.
It added that this statement serves as a reminder of the Commission’s commitment to fostering a stable and compliant telecommunications ecosystem in Nigeria.
Recall that NationsPride had reported that the NCC approved the disconnection of Glo by the MTN following unsettled huge interconnectivity debt, but the Commission later opted for dialogue and peaceful resolution instead of its earlier approval.