Earlyface

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)
has handed four major telecommunication
operators a fine of N1.2 billion for failing to
adhere to quality of service regulations of
the commission in 2012. NCC had last year
developed and published certain Key
Performance Indicators (KPI) threshold to be
maintained by the major telecommunication
service providers.
However, after a careful investigation into
the quality of services provided by the major
network operators, the commission
concluded that the present service provided
by these major telecom operators fell below
the KPI threshold. Subsequently, it handed
them the hefty fines.
The details of the penalties as
communicated to the different operators
indicate that MTN Nigeria as well as 9mobile
were fined the sum of three hundred and
sixty million naira each, while Airtel is to pay
the sum of two hundred and seventy million
naira while Globacom attracted a penalty of
one hundred and eighty million naira.
NCC has also warned that failure to comply
with the directive will further result in the
imposition of another sanction in the
amount of N5, 000, 000 (five million naira)
and a further N500, 000 (five hundred
thousand naira) per day after the expiration
of notice.
Further failure to comply with NCC’s KPI by
December 31 will warrant the stoppage of
sales of SIM cards by offending operators as
it noted that all operators may be affected as
most of them are not satisfying key
consumers especially in the area of rampant
call drop.
Failure of the operators to meet with the
terms of agreement with the Commission in
2012, the commission said, will warrant
more drastic implementation of the Key
Performance Indicators instituted.