Interconnect debt: Poor telecom services may linger, as MTN secures approval to disconnect Exchange telecom

NCC

By Prince Osuagwu, Hi-Tech Editor

Telecommunications subscribers may not get a reprieve from the inexplicable poor services they have been witnessing this Yuletide.

This is as the sector regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has permitted MTN Nigeria to find alternative means of passing traffic without going through Exchange, following the latter’s rising debt profile to the telco.

Recall that prior to the Christmas week, Nigerians witnessed horrible telecom services as their calls failed incessantly.

The situation got worse at Christmas week proper, and has not abated, going into the new year.

Now, the permission by NCC that MTN should discontinue passing voice and data traffic through Exchange telecom may likely frustrate those whose signals are passed through the network, adding to the barrage of complaints over poor quality of services across all the networks.

However, the commission said its decision followed an application by MTN Nigeria which Exchange was notified of, but could not give substantial reasons it couldn’t settle its debt to MTN.

The notice signed by the Director of Public Affairs at NCC, Reuben Muoka, reads in part: “The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, hereby notifies the public that approval has been granted for the disconnection of Exchange Telecommunications Ltd by MTN Nigeria as a result of non settlement of interconnect charges.

“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 the commission 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.

“At the expiration of five days from today, 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 notice added.

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