Telecoms giant seeks further reduction on NCC fine

folarin okunola

December 4, 2015 10:07 AM

The NCC yesterday reduced the $5.2 billion fine to $3.4 billion, and gave the South Africa-based telecoms giant till December 30 to pay it.

A customer leaves an MTN shop in Johannesburg April 10, 2012. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

Reports reveal that MTN Nigeria will hold even more discussions with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in a bid to further reduce the fine imposed on it by the regulator.

According to a Nigerian CommunicationsWeek report, a source close to the situation stated that despite the recent reduction of the fine, the leftover was still sizeable enough to hamper MTN’s ability to invest in its network.

"The fine is still big enough to cripple MTN's ability to invest in its network and that's what further talks with the NCC are about," the source said, according to the report.

READ: Michael Ikpoki, telecom giant's CEO resigns amid $5.2 billion fine saga

The NCC yesterday reduced the $5.2 billion fine to $3.4 billion, and gave the South Africa-based telecoms giant till December 30 to pay it.

The report also states that MTN spokesman, Chris Maroleng, declined to comment on the company seeking further reduction of the fine.

MTN Nigeria was fined $5.2 billion dollars by the NCC for failing to hearken to the regulators directives to deactivate unregistered SIMs on its network.

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