NCC issues MTN Nigeria with 2.6GHz spectrum

ITRealms:

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued the 2.6 GHz spectrum to MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, reports ITRealms.

Disclosing this in a public notice endorsed personally by the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, the Commission said Thursday, it is important to inform stakeholders and the general public of this development.

As said by Danbatta, MTN Nigeria emerged sole preferred bidder in the licensing process of the 2.6 Gega Hertz spectrum auction held recently.

He also said MTN has been issued a provisional letter of award having met the conditions of payment of the specified fees for the spectrum.

Additionally, he said that in line with the provisions of the Information Memorandum (IM), guiding the auction process, MTN Communications Nigeria Limited has fully paid the specified fees for Six Slots of 2 x 30 Mega Hertz (MHz) in the 2.6 GHz spectrum band.

Following the above, he said, the Commission has awarded the license to MTN Nigeria Communications Limited.

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

$5.2trn fine: Only President Buhari can save MTN - Shittu

ITRealms:

Only the President, Muhammadu Buhari has the power to reverse or grant any waiver to MTN Nigeria Communications Limited over the $5.2 trillion fine shower by the industry regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), reports ITRealms.

Making this disclosure in Lagos at the coalition meeting of the Access for Affordable Internet (A4AI) Nigeria chapter, the Minister of Communications, Barr. Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu has said that its only the president, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari that can change the conditions attached to the fine.

Responding to newsmen on if NCC and his ministry could tamper justice with human face, Mr. Shittu noted that the level of violation and subsequent penalty has gone beyond what either NCC or the Ministry of Communication could simply intervene.

He made it clear that no well-meaning Nigerian would like MTN to close shop because they have a good number of Nigerians in its employ and if it could close shop, those people are likely to swell the labour market.

Shittu also empahasised that MTN never denied the violations that attracted the huge fine, but stressed that a child is loved does not mean that you have to spear the rod and spoil the child, arguing that if requisite action is not taken like NCC did, any other operator could as well flout the orders of the regulator and go to sleep with it. 

He lamented the inability of the telecom operator to take action when it was necessary than compounding the issue which earned it such a huge sum of fine.

He used the opportunity to caution operators in the sector to always ensure they operate within the ambit of the law.

The minister equally assured Nigerians and stakeholders in the industry during his inaugural outing that he would operate an open-door policy and solicited well-meaning Nigerians and stakeholders alike to send their good ideas that could move the country forward.

He went ahead to share his business card to almost all the participants to drive home his open door declaration, even as he is ready to learn the industry ropes.

  +Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) +ITRealms DSA @NGRCommTech @NgComCommission
ITREALMS ... everything news digitally! 
Pix: Minister of Communications, Barr. Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu

NATCOMS drags NCC, MTN to court, wants fine nullified

ITRealms:

The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOM) has dragged both the MTN Nigeria Communications Limited (MTN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to a Federal High Court in Ikoyi-Lagos, for alleged neglect and “untold injuries” to Nigerian subscribers, reports ITRealms.

NATCOM also wants the court to declare the N1.4trn fine imposed on the MTN as illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

Reacting to the fine slammed on MTN by NCC, NATCOMS national president, Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo made this disclosure to ITRealms, saying that they have instituted a case at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos on Friday, November 6, 2015 on suit number FHC / L / CS / 1663 / 2015 on the estimated N1 trillion fine against MTN.

NATCOMS, ITRealms gathered wants the Court to stop NCC from implementing the recent fine on MTN, arguing that they failed in the statutory duties to establish, maintain and conduct monthly updates of the Central Database from 2011 till 2015.

NCC, NATCOMS president said, failed to efficiently maintain the Central Database inspite of different exercises conducted in that regard and huge sums of monies deployed thereto.

According to NATCOMS, NCC cannot unilaterally impose and or exert any fine on MTN without securing a conviction of the latter before a competent court of jurisdiction, hence NCC cannot be a Judge in its own case for the establishment, maintenance and conducting updates on Central Database as relating to registration of telephone subscribers.

They also want the court to declare that NCC acted ultra vires to the provisions of the registration of telephone subscribers regulations, 2011 by failing to establish, maintain and conduct updates on same, yet imposing fines on MTN.

NATCOMS, therefore demand an order of perpetual injunction restraining NCC from further imposing or exerting any fine in respect of registration of telephone subscribers on MTN.

Just as they group wanted court to stop MTN from paying any fine (s) to NCC at all on the registration of telephone subscribers.

They insisted that NCC should be ordered to commission, establish and conduct monthly updates on the Central database; stressing that by mandating NCC to conduct rigorous campaign for applicants and other telephone subscribers to update their particulars with the respondents;

Further, NATCOMS said NCC be mandated to publish newspaper apologies to the applicants and other telephone subscribers for the lack of establishment, maintenance and conducting updates on the Central Database.

In addition for NCC to give account of all the fines it had imposed on telecoms operators and pay applicants as well as other telephone subscribers as compensation.

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) 
ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!
Pix: Deolu Ogunbanjo, courtesy: ChannelsTV

MTN Nigeria condemns xenophobic attacks on foreigners

ITRealms:

The management of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, has joined the number of global entities condemning the xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa, reports ITRealms.

MTN Nigeria, ITRealms reports that in a bulk Short Messaging Service (SMS) sent via ‘MTN N’ to its over 60 million subscribers in Nigeria, joined hands with African families in condemning the on-going xenophobic attack in South Africa.

According to MTN, let us all say “NO to xenophobia.”

This is coming as ITRealms gathered that some Nigerian activists were calling for shutdown on South African businesses in the country, such as MTN Nigeria, DSTV, Shoprite, Park ‘N’ Shop among others.

For MTN Group, although Nigeria operation leads several of the over 22 countries operations across Africa in terms of size and subscriber-base.

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms)
ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!