The House of Representatives has expressed displeasure over the unfair international termination rates imposed on local telecommunication carriers by Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The lawmakers expressed the concern during an investigative hearing conducted by the House Committee on Telecommunications, chaired by Hon. Akeem Adeyemi, which was attended by representatives of various Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Local Carriers, and other stakeholders.
In his opening remarks, Hon. Adeyemi observed that the House intervention was in response to the petitions sent to the Committee by some Local Carriers who did not seek redress in the Court, like their counterparts.
“We received petitions from some aggrieved local carriers as regards some regulations by NCC it is our responsibility as the people’s Parliament to look into their plights.
“We understand that some of them, some particular set of these people wrote petitions to the National Assembly went to Court and some approached the National Assembly that they believe in the resolution of the People’s Parliament.”
In his remarks, the NCC Executive Secretary, Professor Umar Dambatta explained that the commission conducted a cost based study on international termination rate led to the issuance of the $0.045 by an international consultant.
Worried by the impacts of the current litigation initiated against the Mobile Network Operators by some of the aggrieved Carriers, the House Committee on Telecommunication chaired by Hon. Akeem Adeyemi directed the Commission to adjust its Determination of Mobile (Voice) International Termination Rates to reflect $0.045 per minute rate as floor rate.
Hon. Adeyemi also directed the Commission to ensure that the $0.045 per minute rate should be the floor rate (not higher or lower) operators will charge the local carriers, while the local carriers and operators can negotiate above the $0.045 per minute rate with international carriers which takes effect since when the new ITR regime started.
The lawmakers who frowned at the failure of NCC to consult with all the stakeholders before the enforcement of the policy, called for a level playing field for all the actors in order to ensure stability in the avoid litigation on the $0.045 per minute floor rate in relation to the local carriers/licenses and international carriers.
They also asked whether the free negotiations model above the $0.045 per minute floor rate is applicable to the local carriers and sustainability of their businesses?
The lawmakers who frowned against the decision of some operators who transact below the floor rate $0.045 per minute, warned the affected MNOs to desist from such discriminatory dealings.
While ruling, Hon. Adeyemi directed the Commission to ensure that the $0.045 per minute rate should be the floor rate (not higher or lower) operators will charge the local carriers, while the local carriers and operators can negotiate above the $0.045 per minute rate with international carriers which takes effect since when the new ITR regime started.
The Committee also mandated NCC to adjust its Determination of Mobile (Voice) International Termination Rates to reflect the above resolution.
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