Pioneer chairman, MTN Nigeria, Pascsl Dozie passes away @85 - ITREALMS

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The pionner chairman, MTN Nigeria, and founder of Diamond Bank, Chief Pascal Gabriel Dozie, has passed away at the age of 85 years, reports ITREALMS.

He died on Tuesday, just a day before his 86th birthday, due to age-related illnesses.

MTN in half-year result: Records N1.16trn revenue - ITREALMS

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The MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, has recorded a new milestone as the first listed company on the Nigerian Exchange Ltd to declare a record N1.16trn revenue in six months, reports ITREALMS.

The company’s 2023 half-year financial statement revealed on Friday that MTN also posted N421.57bn profit before tax, a rise from N352.3bn.

MTN Nigeria, Garmin collaborate on wearables

ITRealms:

MTN Nigeria has concluded collaboration plans with a South African health company, Garmin to introduce a range of world class health and fitness wearable devices to help boost fitness standards, reports ITRealms.

With this development, the collaboration would have increased focus around healthy and more active, and through innovative technologies as Garmin created a range of wellness devices that enrich the lives of our customers through wearable location and communications technology.

ITRealms also reports that the range of watches track, monitor and record daily health activities to motivate users towards a healthier lifestyle.

Business Development Manager for Garmin Sub-Saharan Africa, Mike Clarke, some are also smart devices that pair via Bluetooth with smartphone to receive current weather conditions, forecasts, voice call/text message notifications, emails and more; right on your Garmin fitness device.

“Our Garmin watches support various mobile devices operating on the Android, iOS or Microsoft platforms giving all Nigerian customers the chance to get fit and healthy while staying connected” Clarke said.

ITRealms gathered that through Garmin’s mobile app, Garmin Connect Mobile, members are able to review, analyse and share their activities right from their smart phone device. Now you can focus on your fitness and healthy living goals as all the data you rely on is easy to retrieve and view on the app.

“Building off of our partnership and recent launch with MTN Ghana, we are excited to extend our footprint in Africa and partner with the leading telecommunications provider to bring these innovative solutions into Nigeria where we have seen an increasing interest and adoption of healthy lifestyles by many people” said Jenna Chisnall, Marcomms Manager of Sub-Saharan Africa.

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MTN Nigeria decommissions Blackberry

ITRealms:

MTN Nigeria has decommissioned its Blackberry service, urging subscribers to migrate to ‘smartphones’ reports ITRealms.
 

The leading telco in a Short Messaging Service (SMS) to its subscribers still using Blackberry, MTN said that from January 27, 2017, it would decommission Blackberry service on the network.

Part of the SMS read: “Dear customer, MTN Blackberry service will be decommissioned on 27/01/2017. Please upgrade to a smartphone and enjoy 100 per cent bonus on any data bundle purchased.” 

This move by MTN, ITRealms gathered will adversely affect the fortunes of Blackberry in the Nigerian telecom space.

ITRealms reports that MTN Nigeria was among the first to introduce Blackberry service at the early stage of advent of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM).

Also ITRealms recalled that mid-2016 saw the Canadian-based Blackberry proclaiming that it would seize production of phones, according to the chief executive and executive chairman of Blackberry, Mr. John Chen.

“The company plans to end all internal hardware development and will outsource that function to our partners. We are focusing on software development, including security and applications,” he said.

 
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MTN Nigeria unveils converged digital TV, OTT service

ITRealms:

MTN Nigeria has unveiled its much awaited converged digital television with Over-The-Top (OTT) service, reports ITRealms.

The station thus brings into convergence, telecommunications, broadcasting and media on a given technology stage.

OTT in broadcasting is the delivery of audio, video, and other media over the Internet without the involvement of a multiple-system operator.

Public Relations and Protocol Manager at MTN Nigeria, Mr. Funso Aina  in a press statement made available to the media, said the new service has initially gone live in Jos, Plateau State, beginning last Thursday.

ITRealms also gathered that the TV service follows the recent granting of a digital broadcast licence to MTN Nigeria by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) last year.

Aina also quoted the chief executive officer, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Ferdi Moolman said, the ICT converged company is committed to providing Nigerians with innovative digital platforms which will enhance the way people live, work and play.

“Once we commence full commercial activities, the TV service will deliver an exciting bouquet of rich local and international content to Nigerians. In addition, subscribers will have the freedom to watch their favourite programmes when they choose to via MTN VOD (Video-on-demand) service, rather than having to watch at a specific broadcast time. This will be the first fully converged broadcast and OTT-VOD service to launch in MTN,” Moolman said.

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NCC explains lifting of regulatory services ban on MTN, urges compliance to NCA 2003

ITRealms:

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has adduced reasons why it lifted the regulatory services ban on MTN Nigeria and is not related to the fine imposed on network on October 20, 2015, reports ITRealms.

Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo gave this explanation to ITRealms on Wednesday, saying that the Commission was very clear on the fine imposed on October 20, 2015 due to the failure to deactivate 5.2 million improperly registered Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards, which attracted a fine of N1.04Trillion. 

According to him, “these infractions predated this fine” stressing that the letter lifting suspension of regulatory services to MTN signed by Mr. Efosa Idehen, Head, Compliance, Monitoring/Enforcement and Mrs. Yetunde Akinloye, Head, Legal & Regulatory Services at NCC, specifically stated that the lifting of the suspension was as a result of several letters from MTN to the NCC requesting for the lifting.

NCC also stated in its letter that “we have reviewed MTN’s plea and also took into consideration the fact that MTN has abated all the infractions that gave rise to the suspension of regulatory services by the Commission.”

ITRealms gathered that the infractions included but not limited to tariffs and promotions by MTN in letters from NCC of May 4, 2015, May 9, 2015 and May 25, 2015 respectively to withdraw unapproved tariffs and promotions specifically MTN Trutalk, MTN Best II promotions, among others.

Ojobo further said that compliance checks on MTN showed as at the time of fine imposition that it had failed and deliberately refused to comply with the directives issued by the Commission, hence the fine was instituted.

NCC decried that instead, MTN continued to introduce additional promotions in utter disregard for the NCC directive, contrary to the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 and Regulation 8(2) of the Enforcement Regulations 2005 and the relevant provision in the Guidelines for Advertisement and Promotion.

Further communication with MTN, NCC said as contained in letters dated June 19, 2015 and July 13, 2015 did not in any way discourage the operator from these infractions.

Consequently, in a meeting between the NCC and MTN management on October 5, 2015 it was resolved among others that:

·         NCC should compile and communicate list of all outstanding infractions to MTN stating what they need to do regarding each of the infractions;

·         MTN should resolve all the outstanding infractions within two weeks and revert to the Commission;

·         The Commission will monitor and validate the claims by MTN;

·        

 MTN must commit to settling all outstanding Annual Operating Levies (AOLs) debts from 2014 and MTN must pay all penalties resulting from these outstanding infractions.

Having reviewed MTN’s plea therefore and in consideration that the operator has abated all the infractions listed above, the NCC hereby lifts the suspension urging MTN “to ensure that it maintains good regulatory standing with the Commission at all times to avoid future occurrence”

In lifting the suspension of regulatory services to MTN, “the Commission expects total compliance with NCA, 2003, Regulations and the Terms and Conditions of Licences issued to MTN and will not hesitate to impose necessary sanctions where MTN flouts any provision of the foregoing regulatory instruments.”

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Etisalat denies filing multiple suits against NCC, MTN

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Etisalat Nigeria, has denied some reports making round which claimed that the telco filed multiple suits against the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and MTN Nigeria, reports ITRealms.

In an official press statement made available to ITRealms, Etisalat said, “Our attention has been drawn to misleading insinuations making the rounds in the media that Etisalat Nigeria has filed multiple suits against the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC and MTN Nigeria. The insinuations have arisen largely from a press statement reportedly issued by MTN Nigeria and published by some print organisations and online media platforms under the headline, “MTN confirms legal fireworks with Etisalat over Visafone.”

Also, Etisalat Nigeria said, its compelled to set the facts straight on the intent and status of the legal action it instituted against the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and MTN Nigeria in July 2015, due to the misrepresentation of facts about the case as contained in some print and online media reports of Wednesday 9, February 2016.

“Etisalat wishes to state categorically that at no time were multiple suits filed either against the NCC or MTN on the same matter as insinuated. Etisalat wishes to affirm that the current litigation against MTN Nigeria and Visafone is on a completely different issue. It is germane to state for clarity that the current litigation is not pricing or tariff related. The suit under reference was instituted by Etisalat Nigeria against MTN Nigeria and Visafone Ltd to challenge MTN’s use of the 800MHz spectrum following the acquisition of Visafone. It is therefore materially different in intent from the former action.

“The current action is considered necessary, as it will entrench the dominance of MTN in the retail data services market. It would be recalled that MTN Nigeria was declared dominant by the Nigerian Communications Commission ‘NCC’ in 2013 and remains dominant in the wholesale leased line and retail voice markets.  The use of the 800MHz spectrum to deploy broadband services ahead of its competitors, particularly those who prior to MTN’s purchase of Visafone, held similar spectrum bands as MTN, will further entrench MTN’s dominance in the Nigerian telecommunications sector.

“Sometime in 2015, Etisalat Nigeria’s attention was drawn to a waiver granted by NCC to MTN Nigeria to offer a 30% differential between its on-net and off-net retail tariffs, contrary to the obligation imposed on MTN Nigeria under the Determination of Dominance. 

Etisalat Nigeria thereafter filed an action against NCC and MTN Nigeria seeking a reversal of the waiver as it was in contravention of the subsisting obligation imposed on MTN Nigeria under the Determination of Dominance.

“In response to Etisalat Nigeria’s legal action, NCC filed processes stating categorically that it had directed MTN Nigeria “to maintain status quo of the dominant obligation, that is, to revert to maintaining parity between on-net and off-net tariff charges with immediate effect”. This was effectively a reversal of the waiver that Etisalat Nigeria had challenged in that particular suit. 

“Consequently, Etisalat Nigeria filed a notice of discontinuance in the suit and withdrew the action in December 2015, because the objective of the suit had been accomplished. The latest legal action is therefore materially different in intent from the former and the recent insinuations are therefore misleading and unfortunate to say the least,” Etisalat officials posited.  

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MTN Nigeria backed by group shareholders to drag NCC to court

ITRealms:

MTN Nigeria was backed by the group’s shareholder community to drag the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to a Federal High Court in Lagos, reports ITRealms.

Investigations by ITRealms revealed that further to the announcement issued by the company via the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) on 4 December 2015, shareholders were advised that all factors having a bearing on the matter have been thoroughly and carefully considered including a review of the circumstances leading to the fine and the subsequent letters received from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Also, ITRealms reports that MTN Nigeria acting on legal advice has resolved that the manner of the imposition of the fine and the quantum thereof is not in accordance with the NCC’s powers under the Nigerian Communications Act and therefore there are valid grounds upon which to challenge the fine.

MTN, thus insisted it has followed due process and has instructed its lawyers to proceed with an action in the Federal High Court in Lagos seeking the appropriate reliefs.

“MTN is advised that in the current circumstances in line with the lis pendens rule (pending legal action) the parties are enjoined to restrain from taking further action until the matter is finally determined. This is consistent with previous judicial decisions in Nigeria,” part of the advice read.

In addition, ITRealms reports that notwithstanding this action MTN would continue to engage with the Nigerian Communications Commission to try and ensure an amicable resolution in the best interests of the company, its stakeholders and the Nigerian authorities.
 

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