(NCC) Nigeria Communication Commission has ask MTN to stop the disconnection between Glo from Globacom over unpaid interconnection debt. NCC in a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Reuben Muoka, said the parties have now reached agreement to resolve all outstanding issues between them.
Consequently, the commission said it had put the phased disconnection on hold for a period of 21 days from today, January 17, 2024.
While the commission expects MTN and Glo to resolve all outstanding issues within the 21-day period, it insisted that interconnect debts must be settled by all operating companies as a necessary component towards compliance with regulatory obligations of all licensees.
It cautioned that keeping the terms and conditions of Mobile Network Operators, MNOs, and other licensee’s licences in the telecom industry was mandatory, especially as contained in their interconnection agreements.
Recall that the NCC had on January 8, 2024, published a pre-disconnection notice informing subscribers of the approval granted MTN Nigerian Communications Plc. to commence the phased disconnection of Globacom Limited with effect from January 18, 2024, due to long-standing interconnection debt dispute between the parties.
Why NCC Stopped the Disconnection
The decision was made because:
- Both telecom operators reached an agreement to settle pending disputes
- NCC wanted to avoid disruption of calls and network access
- The commission prioritized consumer protection
- It provided extra time for debt resolution before regulatory action resumes
What This Means for MTN Subscribers
For MTN users, the temporary suspension meant:
- Continued network communication without interruption
- No immediate service restriction
- Time for telecom operators to resolve financial disagreements
The NCC emphasized that operators must settle interconnect debts promptly while ensuring subscribers are not negatively affected by corporate disputes.
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Frequently Asked Questions About NCC Asking MTN to Stop Disconnection till February 8
Why did the NCC ask MTN to stop disconnection till February 8?
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) directed MTN to suspend the planned disconnection to allow more time for telecom operators to resolve their interconnection debt dispute and avoid disrupting services for subscribers.
What was the reason for the planned MTN disconnection?
The planned disconnection was linked to unresolved interconnect debt issues between telecom operators, which could have affected call connectivity between networks.
Did the NCC permanently cancel the MTN disconnection?
No. The NCC only ordered a temporary suspension until February 8 to allow all parties involved to settle outstanding issues.
How did the NCC decision affect MTN subscribers?
The decision ensured that MTN subscribers continued to enjoy uninterrupted calls and network services during the suspension period.
Why is NCC intervention important in telecom disputes?
NCC intervention helps protect consumers, maintain stable communication services, and ensure that disputes between telecom operators do not negatively affect millions of subscribers.
Conclusion
The NCC’s decision to ask MTN to stop disconnection till February 8 was aimed at protecting telecom users and maintaining service stability across Nigeria. This move gave operators enough time to resolve their differences while ensuring subscribers were not affected by service disruptions.
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