ATCIS Commends NCC For Wading Into MTN/GLO inter-Connectivity Feud

The entire board and management of the Association of Telephone Cable Tv and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria has commended the board of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), led by the Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida with his team for its prompt response to the lingering inter-Connectivity feud between MTN Nigeria and Globalcom Limited.

The National President of ATCIS, Hon. Sina Bilesanmi stated this, while speaking to journalists on Friday January 19, 2024 in Lagos.

“I will like to seize this opportunity to thank the board of NCC for quickly heeding to the yearnings of ATCIS and Nigerians in general by suspending the approval given to MTN to disconnect GLO calls from entering into its network,” he said.

The advocacy body noted that much efforts were made to get the plan suspended, while the issues are being resolved by the warring parties.

According to Bilesanmi, the body wrote letters to the regulator, which he said eventually led to the latest development.

ATCIS-Nigeria has made significant progress and various reforms with a credit of three hundred and twenty-seven (327) successful programs and achievements for the betterment of Telephone, Cable TV and Internet Subscribers across the country to her name.

“We appreciate this gesture and we will not take it for granted. We want to use this medium to appeal to the NCC to always avail us information and keep us in the know of their plans and take advantage of our spread across Nigeria. We believe that this partnership will be a progressive one,” he said.

The ATCIS National President also hinted that they are ready to partner with NCC and all the stakeholders in the industry to make 2024 World Consumer Right Day, which is celebrated on March 15 of every year, successful.

He then sought the support of the NCC, Network Operators, the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to defend the interest and rights of telecom subscribers in Nigeria.

Bilesanmi equally thanked NCC, stakeholders and journalists for their roles in the December 2023 Hangout, and revealed that the year 2024 edition will hold in Edo State.

Recall that the NCC, on January 8, 2024, granted approval to MTN to commence phased disconnection of Glo with effect from January 18, 2024 due to long-standing interconnection debt dispute between the parties.

In granting the approval, NCC said that it was deeply conscious of the potential impacts of the decision on consumers and has therefore continued to engage both parties to facilitate a resolution, which prioritizes and protects consumers’ interest and the seamless operation of the national telecoms network.

The Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) later said that it has suspended its approval to MTN to commence phased disconnection of Globacom subscribers for a period of 21 days from Jan. 17, 2024.

NCC said in a statement on Thursday that the suspension of the approval was to allow MTN and Glo to resolve all outstanding issues within the 21-day period.

It further said that it was pleased to announce that the parties had now reached agreement to resolve all outstanding issues between them and the suspension of its approval was in exercise of its regulatory powers in that regard.

“The Commission insisted that interconnect debts must be settled by all operating companies as a necessary component towards compliance with regulatory obligations of all licensees.

Our team’s influence and connection as a leading body in consumer advocacy has afforded our members employment opportunities at various firms across the country. With nine hundred and sixty eight (968) newspaper publications in local, international and online news media as of 20th January, 2024 and a presence in twenty (20) National Television and Radio stations for an Interview Program on every Wednesday of the week tagged “Know Your Rights As Telecoms Subscribers from Network Operators and service providers” the body is well poised to executive its core purpose of consumer protection, ATCIS has spent 789 million naira till today date according to our financial report, through donation from members, loans and support from 9mobile Operator.

ATCIS-Nigeria has received twenty-five (25) awards (and still counting) from various Government agencies, corporate bodies and International organizations including from world leading Telecommunications agencies and Telecoms conferences in Spain, France, Ghana, London and Lagos-Nigeria.

“It is OBLIGATORY that Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and other licensees in the telecom industry keep to the terms and conditions of their licenses, especially as contained in their interconnection agreements,” Bilesanmi said.