The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has authorized MTN Nigeria Communications Limited to disconnect Exchange Telecommunications Limited (Exchange) due to unresolved interconnect charge debts.
In a statement, the NCC revealed that Exchange had been informed about the outstanding debt and given an opportunity to address the issue. However, after a thorough review, the Commission concluded that Exchange failed to provide sufficient justification for the unpaid charges.
Following this decision, MTN has been granted approval to stop routing voice and data traffic through Exchange. The disconnection will take effect five days after the notice’s publication, with MTN set to use alternative interconnection channels to maintain connections with other network providers.
The NCC stated that this action aligns with Section 100 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, and the 2012 Guidelines for Granting Approval to Disconnect Telecommunications Operators. The Commission emphasized that the disconnection would remain in place until further notice, reinforcing its commitment to promoting financial accountability and compliance within the telecommunications sector.
Industry stakeholders and telecom users have been encouraged to remain informed about the potential impact of this development, as the NCC continues to ensure the integrity of Nigeria’s telecommunications ecosystem.
