Inter-connectivity debt issue: Why NCC gave Glo 21-day respite

The interconnectivity debt issue between South Africa-owned telecom operator, MTN Nigeria, and the indigenous operator, Globacom, was on Thursday resolved temporarily by the two companies, putting on hold the anticipated black out of about 61 million Glo customers from making or receiving calls from MTN customers.

Daily Trust earlier reported that the issue was being resolved by the two parties.

Confirming this, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) announced that it had put on hold its earlier approval for MTN to begin the phased disconnection of Globacom due to a long-standing interconnection debt dispute between the parties.

A statement from NCC which was signed by the Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Mouka, reads in part: “The commission is happy to announce that the parties reached an agreement to resolve all outstanding issues between them.

“For this reason, and in execution of its regulatory powers, the commission has put the phased disconnection on hold for 21 days beginning today, January 17, 2024.

“While the commission expects MTN and Glo to resolve all outstanding concerns within 21 days, the commission urges that interconnect debts be settled by all operating businesses as a vital component of all licensees’ regulatory compliance.”

Daily Trust learnt from sources at the NCC yesterday that the fear that the disconnection might have a big effect on the economy made the government to intervene by prevailing on MTN to shelve its disconnection plan.

One of the sources told our reporter that top federal government officials met with officials of MTN and Glo on the matter at the instance of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, last week.