The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has authorized MTN Nigeria Communications Limited (MTN) to disconnect Exchange Telecommunications Limited (Exchange) due to unpaid interconnect charges.
In a public notice, the NCC stated that Exchange was informed of the situation and given the opportunity to respond. After reviewing the case, the Commission concluded that Exchange lacked sufficient justification for failing to settle the charges.
According to the NCC, the disconnection aligns with Section 100 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, and the 2012 Guidelines on Procedure for Granting Approval to Disconnect Telecommunications Operators.
The notice specifies that five days from its issuance, MTN will cease routing voice and data traffic through Exchange and will use alternative channels to connect with other network service providers.
This disconnection will remain in effect until the Commission decides otherwise.
Interconnect charges are fees that telecom operators pay each other for connecting calls across different networks. Non-payment of these charges can disrupt services and affect the overall quality of telecommunications in the country.
The NCC’s decision underscores the importance of financial obligations among telecom operators to maintain seamless communication services for consumers.
As of now, there has been no public response from Exchange Telecommunications Limited regarding the NCC’s decision.
