The NCC has received the findings on cost based study for the termination rates of Mobile Voice Termination Rates from officials of PricewaterhouseCoopers, PwC, the consultant commissioned to carry out the study in February, 2017.
Termination rates are charges which one telecommunications operator charges to another, for terminating calls on its network.
In her opening remarks, Josephine Amuwa, Director, Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, NCC, stated that once the findings of the consultants, PricewaterhouseCoopers, is known today, it will be subjected to review in line with NCC’s management in involving stakeholders in having a say in determining the way forward on issues critical to the sector. She stated that, after the review, a new rate will take off on March 1, 2018.
In his welcome address, the EVC/CEO of NCC, Prof Umar Garba Danbata, ably represented by Sunday Dare, Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, NCC, stated that, interconnection is critical for the smooth operations and the growth of the telecom industry and there is the need to determine interconnection cost and this, based on international best practice. This, he said, is why the NCC commissioned PriceWaterhouseCooppers, to carry out a coat based study for the determination of Mobile Voice Termination Rates, the findings of which is being presented today.
Answering questions from journalists on other issues relating to the industry apart from the Mobile Voice Termination Rates, the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, NCC, stated that, the bidding for 9Mobile involves two aspects, the financial aspect, which is being handled by the CBN and the technical aspect which will be handled by NCC. He stated that, the NCC will carry out its own aspect after the CBN completes its own financial aspect, so, all the speculations on a preferred bidder should be discarded for now.
In attendance at the presentation were stakeholders such as the the Mobile and telecom operators like MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9Mobile, Ntel, Smile, as well as ALTON, etc.
