The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced a temporary suspension of three telecom licences starting from May 17, 2024. 

The suspended licences include the Interconnect Exchange Licence, the Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) Licence, and the Value Added Service (VAS) Aggregator Licence.

This decision was disclosed by the NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Reuben Muoka, through a statement issued yesterday. 

According to Mr. Muoka, the suspension is necessary for the commission to conduct a comprehensive review of these licence categories. The review will focus on various critical aspects such as the current level of competition, market saturation, and the overall market dynamics.

“In line with its powers under the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 to grant and renew licences, promote fair competition and develop the Communications Industry, the Nigerian Communications Commission (the Commission) hereby informs all stakeholders of a temporary suspension on issuance of new licences in the following categories: Interconnect Exchange Licence, Mobile Virtual Network Operator Licence, and Value Added Service Aggregator Licence,” the statement read.

The NCC emphasized that during the suspension period, no new applications for these licences will be accepted. However, the commission noted that pending applications submitted before the commencement of the suspension on May 17, 2024, will still be considered based on their individual merits.

The temporary suspension is intended to provide the NCC with the opportunity to evaluate the existing conditions in the telecom sector and make necessary adjustments to ensure a healthy competitive environment.

For more news https://lagostalks.com/news/