NCC gives MTN deadline to pay $5.2b fine amidst poor service complains

The telecommunications service provider is said to be falling short in terms of quality service, over billing of customers, arrogance of its customer service executives and high call rates among other minuses.

The Nigerian Communications Commission has given MTN Nigeria a deadline of November 16 to pay a $5.2 billion fine for failing to disconnect unregistered SIM cards.
News wire agency, AFP, is reporting that the spokesman of the NCC, Tony Ojobo, gave the deadline in an interview with it.

AFP quoted Ojobo as having said: “The deadline set for the payment of the fine is November 16.”
He added: “The key issue is if MTN breached the law or not.
“Certainly, there was a breach.
“And if there is a breach, we will apply the law.”
MTN failed to disconnect about 5.1 million unregistered sim as directed by the NCC.
This, insider sources said, may not be unconnected with the migration from the network by service users.
The telecommunications service provider is said to be falling short in terms of quality service, over billing of customers, arrogance of its customer service executives and high call rates among other minuses.
Following the exit of its customers, especially with the introduction of the porting service by NCC, MTN was said to have become desperate to retain those who have not abandoned its service, hence the failure to insist on customer re-registration.
With the failure to deactivate the 5.1 million unregistered subscribers, NCC slammed a N200,000 fine on MTN for each unregistered SIM.
Ojobo, however, said the telecommunications company has opened talks with the NCC on the way forward.
He told AFP that the NCC was yet to take a position on what would happen if MTN failed to meet the deadline.
He said: “When we get to the bridge, we will know how to cross it.
“The deadline set for the payment of the fine is November 16.
“If the situation will change in any way, then the government at the top will have to so direct.
“But for now, the mood is to apply the law.”
MTN however has described the fine as extreme.
It said the NCC has refused to listen to its plea to reconsider its stand on the penalty.
Its spokesperson, Chineze Gbenga-Oluwatoye, said in an e-mailed response to Vanguard newspaper that the fine was not commensurate to the offence committed but the NCC “did not accept recommendations that the fine of 200,000 Naira ($1,005) per SIM was too heavy”.
Gbenga-Oluwatoye added: “MTN Nigeria contacted the regulator with concerns that a demand to disconnect SIM cards by a certain deadline would cause ‘severe disruption’ for customers and recommended a staggered process to limit the possible impact.”