NCC grants telcos disconnection approval as interconnect ‘debt crisis’ worsens

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has granted approval to Airtel, MTN and IHS to disconnect eight telecommunications operators over non-settlement of interconnect and facility charges.

The commission gave the approval in a notice dated December 18, in line with the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.

Interconnect debt arises when an operator fails to settle the cost of termination of service rendered to it by another operator in the industry.

While some will be disconnected partially, others will be fully disconnected at the expiration of the notice period which is 10 and 21 days respectively.

In June, Umar Danbatta, executive vice chairman, NCC, had said there was a rising “debt crisis” in the industry that the commission was working hard to resolve.

After the NCC set a July deadline for payment, debtor companies had agreed to settle the interconnect debt which was put at N165 billion at the time.