THE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has released a new set of
interconnection rates determination for voice services for the country’s
telecommunications industry, commencing April 1, 2013.
The commission said it arrived at the new rate after comprehensive consultations with various stakeholders.
In
a late-evening statement on behalf of the commission, the director of
public affairs, Tony Ojobo, noted that the significantly downwards
reviewed prices were informed by the depth of competition in the
industry while taken into consideration the position of new entrants and
small operators.
He said, “the Commission hereby determines
that: The termination rates for voice services provided by new entrants
and small operators in Nigeria, irrespective of the originating network
shall be N6.40 (Six Naira Forty Kobo) from April 1, 2013; N5.20 (Five
Naira Twenty Kobo) from April 1, 2014; and N3. 90 (Three Naira Ninety
Kobo) from 1st April, 2015.
“The termination rates for
voice services provided by other operators in Nigeria, irrespective of
the originating network shall be N4.90 (Four Naira Ninety Kobo) from 1st
of April, 2013; N4.40 (Four Naira Forty Kobo) from 1st of April, 2014;
and N3.90 (Three Naira Ninety Kobo) from 1st of April 2015.
“This
determination shall take effect from April 1, 2013, and remain valid
and binding on licensees for the next three years until further reviewed
by the Commission.
“New entrant is defined as newly licensed Operator entering an existing or new market within 0 to 3 years.
“Small
operator is defined, for the purpose of the Determination, as an
existing operator with a market share of 0 – 7.5 per cent in terms of
subscriber base.
“The current interconnection rate regulation was
implemented through the Commission’s Interconnection Rate Determination
issued on December 21, 2009. Since then, the Nigerian Communications
Market has seen tremendous growth in both, subscriber numbers as well as
traffic volumes and available technologies (e.g. 3G). The current which
is symmetric to all operators is N8.2.
“In June 2012, the Commission appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to undertake a cost study for voice interconnection.
“In
line with its commitment to a policy of openness, transparency,
fairness, and participatory regulation, the commission informed
stakeholders in July 2012 of its engagement of PWC to advise on the
review of interconnection rates for mobile and fixed telephony
services.”
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