By Stellamaries Amuwa
The Nigerian Communications Commission Friday announced that approval has been granted for the disconnection of Exchange Telecommunications Limited (Exchange) from MTN Nigeria Communications Limited (MTN) as a result of non-settlement of interconnect charges.
Although the commission did not state the amount involved, insider sources state that the amount runs up to billions of naira.
In a disconnection notice served on the MTN and the general public signed by Reuben Muoka, Director, Public Affairs at the NCC, dated Friday, 27th December, 2024, the notice was issues “pursuant to the NCC Act 2923 and the guidelines for procedure for granting approval to disconnect telecommunications operators, 2012”.
Muoka states that “Exchange was notified of the application and was given opportunity to comment and state its case.
“The Commission, having examined the application and circumstances surrounding the indebtedness, determined that Exchange does not have sufficient reason for non-payment of the interconnect charges.
“The public is, therefore, requested to TAKE NOTICE that:1. The Commission has approved the Disconnection of Exchange to MTN in accordance with Section 100 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 and the Guidelines on Procedure for Granting Approval to Disconnect Telecommunications Operators, 2012.
“2. At the expiration of 5 (Five) days from the date of this notice, MTN will discontinue passing voice and data traffic through Exchange and will, thereafter, utilise alternative channels in interconnecting with other Network Service Providers.
“Please note that this disconnection will subsist until otherwise determined by the Commission”.
The Nigerian public have been complaining of the poor telecomm services (both voice and data), not just by the MTN but across the sector, with unimaginable drop calls, non-hearing calls, yet they are billed by the operators without any refund and sanctions not applied by the regulators.
