MTN: We NEVER asked for ban on OTT services

MTN Nigeria has denied reports that its CEO, Ferdi Moolman, asked for a ban on – or taxation – of over-the-top (OTT) services in the country.

OTT services are usually third-party accesses – such as Whatsapp chats and calls – carried by networks but over which they have no control.

Most of these services utilise data subscription and wi-fi access.

In a statement issued on Friday, MTN denied that Moolman told a senate committee that the services should be taxed or banned altogether.

The statement read: :Our attention has been drawn to the inaccurate reporting of some of MTN’s comments at Tuesday’s Senate Committee hearing on the suspended adjustment of the price floor for data services. As a communications company, enabling platforms for people to voice their opinions is at the heart of what we do. Thus we naturally encourage individual expressions and personal interpretations of events. On this occasion however, we feel it is important to correct the inaccurate interpretations of the MTN Nigeria CEO, Mr. Ferdi Moolman’s statement about “over-the-top” (OTT) telecoms services.

“At no point did Mr. Moolman call for a ban on, or taxation of OTT services.

“During his submission, Mr. Moolman outlined a number of factors impacting the telecom sector’s sustainability including inflation, foreign exchange limitations, and the proliferation of unlicensed OTT services. He was asked for more information regarding the impact of OTT players in particular, and how the Nigerian market differed from the UAE in their management of these services. In answering, he explained how OTT services are regulated in the UAE; and in closing reiterated support for a broader study addressing the macro-economic factors affecting the delivery of qualitative services to Nigerians prior to further regulatory intervention in this and other areas where intervention is required.

“As Mr. Moolman also stated at the Hearing, we would like to reiterate that MTN Nigeria remains unrelentingly committed to the sustained provision of affordable and accessible voice and data services in accordance with the National ICT Policy and Broadband plan of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”