NCC GRANTS AIRTEL NETWORK APPROVAL TO DISCONNECT GLOBACOM FROM ITS NETWORK

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has granted Airtel Networks Limited an approval to partially disconnect Globacom from its network.

The regulatory agency said the approval was because of Globacom’s failure to settle interconnect debts.

The partial disconnection will make it impossible for Glo subscribers to make calls to Airtel network. They, however, can receive calls from the network.

Details of the decision revealed that the disconnection will take effect from October 28.

Earlier in the year, MTN had accused Globacom of refusing to pay up its interconnect indebtedness and threatened to disconnect Glo subscribers, leading to NCC’s intervention.

Telecom operators settle interconnect bills through NCC-licensed clearinghouses. The bills are generated from charges for calls from a particular network that terminate on another network.

NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Henry Nkemadu, disclosed that Glomobile was notified of the application and was given opportunity to comment and state its case.

The NCC said that at the expiration of 10 days from the date of the notice, subscribers on the network of Globacom will no longer be able to make calls to Airtel but will be able to receive calls.

The NCC also disclosed that the disconnection will subsist until otherwise determined by the commission.