MTN Reacts To Govt Monopoly Saga

Selorm Adadevoh

MTN GHANA says it has not received any formal notification on the government’s decision to implement new policies aimed at ensuring a leveled playing field for all network operators within the telecommunications industry.

In a statement released and signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Selorm Adedevoh, MTN Ghana said it respected the National Communications Authority’s (NCA’s) view to regulate the telecommunication sector in Ghana based on legislation and best practices.

The company, however, indicated that “it will refrain from making any public statements or comments on this matter” and would wait for formal notification from the regulator, the NCA, to assess the details.

“We would like to reassure our cherished shareholders and customers that our commitment to the delivery of a bold new digital world in Ghana remains intact and they can count on our continued investment in infrastructure and innovative products and services,” MTN stated.

The statement indicated that MTN Ghana was focused on providing an enabling technology to support Ghana’s digital economy and drive productivity, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.

It added that the telecommunication company “is a responsible market leader in a highly competitive market,” and that it would remain an ethical business committed to its regulatory obligations, while striving to deliver on its belief that everyone deserved the benefits of a modern connected life.

Government concerns

The government, over the weekend, announced that it had directed the NCA to enforce provisions of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775) and the National Telecommunications Policy (NTP) to address disparities in market and revenue share in the telecommunications sector.

According to a statement signed by the Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the new policies were meant to correct the imbalance in the telecommunication market.

The statement indicated that the NCA would, among others, apply the measures, including asymmetrical interconnect rate in favour of the disadvantaged operators, in exercise of its regulatory mandate.

The NCA said it would also set floor pricing on all minutes, data, SMS and Mobile Money, and review and approve all pricing by the SMP as required by law.

It added that it would insist that SMP did not have differential prices for on-net and off-net transactions, while ensuring that various operator vendors were not subjected to exclusionary pricing or behavior.

These would be done besides the NCA ensuring that SMP’s access to information did not disadvantage any value added service of non-SMP operators.

“It will require operators to present implementation plans on National Roaming Services within the next 30 days for execution on or before the next 90 days,” the minister said.

“These measures kick in immediately and the NCA is expected to work with all Network Operators who must cooperate to ensure it is done painlessly.”

Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful pointed out that the measures taken in the past to open up the market and ensure fairer competition, though unpleasant to the dominant player then, had eventually ensued to the benefit of the consumer, which had also seen a vibrant telecom sector today.

“This will also have the same result over time. It is corrective and not punitive,” the statement concluded.

By Ernest Kofi Adu

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