NCC Stops MTN’s New Tariff Plans

Emma Okonji

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), at the weekend, ordered MTN Nigeria Communications to stop implementing its new tariff plan called MTN TruTalk+ or face serious sanctions.

The NCC, the telecoms industry regulator, said it did not grant approval for the promo, which is already running.

The Commission also barred MTN from further advertisement of such service in the print, electronic media or its websites.

In a letter dated May 19, 2015 with ref No NCC/ MTN/18/15 and signed by the Head, Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement, Mr. Efosa Idehen and Head, Legal and Regulatory Services, Mrs. Yetunde Akinloye, the Commission said the records of the Commission showed that the operator has no approval of the regulatory authority before embarking on the new promotional tariff plan.

According to the Commission, its Compliance Unit revealed that the new tariff with daily access fee of N5, allows subscribers to call all networks at 11k/sec and N20k/sec to UK, USA, India, Canada and China.

The Commission’s investigations showed that MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd has already configured this tariff plan on their network and has therefore implemented same without the appropriate regulatory approval. It said the action contravenes section 108 (1) of the Nigeria Communications Act 2003.

“Consequent upon the above, the Commission thereby directs MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd to immediately discontinue this Tariff Plan and all associated advertisements regarding same or otherwise face regulatory sanctions accordingly” NCC said in a statement.

The NCC had initiated this action in fulfilment of its mandate under section 89 of NCC Act 2003 having carried out a compliance check on