NCC grants Glo 21 days extension to resolve interconnect debt owed MTN, halts disconnection

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has halted the planned disconnection of Globacom Limited (Glo) from MTN Nigeria Communications Plc (MTN).

The initial disconnection was hinged on Glo’s indebtedness to MTN for over 15 years.

Stepping in as a regulator, the NCC on January 8, 2024 published a Pre-Disconnection Notice informing subscribers of the approval granted to MTN Nigerian Communications Plc. (MTN) to commence the phased disconnection of Globacom Limited (Glo) with effect from January 18, 2024 due to long-standing interconnection dispute between the parties.

However, the telecoms regulator has made a reversal on its earlier notice noting that the parties have now reached agreement to resolve all outstanding issues between them.

In a statement cited by Nigerian NewsDirect, the NCC explained that, “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 Commission acknowledges both parties’ customer-centric approach to the resolution of the dispute, as this will enable MTN and Glo’s customers to continue to enjoy seamless connectivity between the two networks.”

The regulator also directed MTN and Glo to resolve all outstanding issues within 21 days while insisting that interconnect debts must be settled by all operating companies as a necessary component towards compliance to regulatory obligations of all licensees.

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

In the same, there had been reports earlier in the week of lines being barred by telecoms operators before the expiration of the disconnection notice issued by the NCC.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had earlier directed telcos operators in Nigeria, including MTN, Airtel, and Globacom, among others, to implement full network barring on all phone lines for which subscribers had not submitted their NINs and those without verified NINs by February 28, 2024.

Following the barring, a subscriber group, National Association of Telecoms Subscribers of Nigeria (NATCOMS) threatened court action against the telcos.

NATCOMS President, Mr. Deolu Ogunbanjo said barring subscribers before the stipulated time is unacceptable.

He advised the telcos to reverse their decision or risk court action by the group.

He said a lot of the members affected by the decision of the telcos are business people and the action makes them lose millions of naira every day thus the need for the group to take action against telcos.

Ogunbanjo said the NCC would meet key stakeholders in the sector this week, promising the issue would be raised at the meeting and he will come back to his members with positive news.

He, however, urged subscribers who have not linked their SIMs to do so to avoid barring their phone numbers at end of the grace time even though the group seeks for an extension of the deadline.