MTN, Airtel, ATC May Disconnect 35M subscribers

MTN, Airtel, ATC may disconnect about 35M subscribers of Globacom, Ntel due to interconnect debt, if they fail to pay up before the next 10 to 21 days.

NCC Logo | 

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has granted disconnection approval to mobile network operators (MNOs) to disconnect owing colleagues over rise in interconnect debt and failure of the affected operators to pay.

The Guardian reports that NCC has sent notification letters to the affected operators.

In the document sighted on 18th December, 2018, NCC directed MTN, Airtel and IHS to disconnect, on partial basis, services to Globacom, Ntel (MNOs) and interconnect exchange points including Breeze, Exchange, Solid, Medallion and Niconnx.

The implication of this development is that some millions of subscribers would soon start to experience service disruptions.

The affected operators have less than 20 days to make amends or risk disconnections.

If the disconnection move is implemented, over 35 million subscribers might be cut off from mobile network.