Nigerian authorities extend MTN’s licences by 10 years

ABUJA - MTN Nigeria's licences have been renewed by another ten years, the company announced on Wednesday after weeks of speculation over the renewal.

The telecommunications firm said the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had renewed its Unified Access Service (UAS) licence and spectrum licence for wireless local loop in the 900 MHz and 1 800 MHz band, subject to licence conditions.

The company's licences had expired on August 31, and the new extension which kickedoff from September 1, will run for a decade.

"Renewing our licences for another ten years is very important to our business and enables us to continue to provide services to ensure the benefits of a modern connected life for our people," said MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola.

The company paid N71.6 billion (R2.5 billion) for the spectrum licence and N374.6 million for the UAS licence.

Nigeria is MTN's biggest market, and the company has previous encountered numerous regulatory challenges in the west African country, including a fine in 2015 by the

NCC over unregistered SIM card users.

Meanwhile, MTN is in talks with potential international buyers for its wireless business in Afghanistan, a bid to accelerate plans to exit the country, according to people familiar with the matter.

Africa’s biggest mobile-phone operator, the market leader in Afghanistan with a 40 percent share, is in discussions with several parties, said the people, who asked not be identified as the negotiations are ongoing.

MTN announced just over a year ago a plan to exit countries in the Middle East over the medium term, enabling the Johannesburg-based company to focus on African markets.–