A reliable source in Globacom told Newsmen in Lagos that the
amount due for payment was N1.6 billion and it had been paid without
controversy.
Recall that a public pre-disconnection notice signed by the
Nigerian Communication Commission’s (NCC) Director of Public Affairs, Reuben
Muoka, had been posted on the commission’s Twitter page on Monday, Jan. 8.
The notice stated that Glo failed to settle its outstanding
debts despite repeated attempts at resolution.
It stated that after reviewing the application and the
circumstances relating to the indebtedness, Globacom lacked the significant or
justifiable reasons for failing to pay the interconnect charges.
Part of the public notice read: “All subscribers are
requested to take notice that the commission has approved the partial
disconnection of Globacom to MTN.
“This is in accordance with Section 100 of the Nigerian
Communications Act (2003) and paragraph nine of the Guidelines on Procedure for
Granting Approval to Disconnect Telecommunications Operators (2012).
“At the expiration of 10 days from Jan. 8, 2024, subscribers
of Globacom will no longer be able to make calls to MTN but will be able to
receive calls.
The Glo official said a proper cross checking of facts
should have been done before concluding that the telco was owing MTN.
“We are not owing MTN any interconnect charges,” the Glo
official said.
The official added that Glo was the first telecoms company
that introduced the pay per second form of billing, thereby cutting the
monopoly of the other foreign companies operating in Nigeria.
According to the Glo official, the report against Nigeria’s
fully indigenous telecommunications company that has redefined access to
communications at all levels is false.