Interconnect debt: We operate by licensing conditions, says MTN

CEO says high cost of mobile phones is hindering digital inclusion

MTN said it operates by its licensing conditions and regulations in its position on interconnect debt.

The Chief Executive Officer, Karl Toriola, stated this in an interview on Arisetv , while reacting to questions as regards the interconnect debt issue between MTN and Globacom.

Recall that the Nigerian Communications

Commission ( NCC), earlier in the month, published a predisconnection notice informing subscribers of the approval granted MTN Nigeria Communications Plc to commence the phased disconnection of Globacom Limited with effect from January 18, 2024, due to long- standing interconnection debt dispute between the parties.

Further to that, the NCC later asked MTN to put on hold the phased disconnection following an agreement reached by both service providers.

However, in the interview, Toriola said: “Suffice it to say that we have between the NCC and the CBN, the most developed regulatory bodies who arbitrate on such matters and whatever we do in that dispute or that discourse will be in line with what the NCC dictates. The NCC is very competent in addressing such issues. They have come out with authorization for disconnection and that has been put on hold to allow addressing these issues.

“But what I can say is that MTN will always act in the most professional, most compliant manner, and we will not do anything that hasn’t been authorised by our licensing conditions or the regulator.”

On MTN as a Nigerian firm, he added: “We are a Nigerian company, registered in Nigeria with Nigerian shareholders. If you look at our leadership cadre, you will see that the company is 90 per cent led at the very top level by Nigerians. And I don't think we have more than 10 expatriates in this company. We have a very seasoned board of Nigerian directors as well as some international directors. We’ve grown to this size because we’ve done the right things at the right time. You cannot force customers to make their choice with their wallets,” he added.

Meanwhile, Toriola has identified the high cost of mobile phones as an obstacle to achieving digital inclusion in Nigeria.