700MHz spectrum: MTN, Broadcasting C’ssion are on their own – NCC

Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) has distanced itself from the N34 billion licence deal MTN Nigeria struck with Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to use the 700 mega-hertz telecommunication spectrum which NCC intended to auction for broadband penetration in the country.

Professor Umar Dambatta, Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, said categorically in the latest edition of the NCC Newsletter that the NBC-MTN deal was done without NCC involvement and it requires arbitration and mediation through the Frequency Management Council, which is the highest authority on the management of spectrum.

Professor Dambatta said the 700MHz spectrum shouldn’t have been auctioned by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), because it is a telecommunication spectrum that is very important for broadband penetration.

He added, “We do not intend to join issues with them (NBC) but we intend to avail ourselves of existing mechanism for arbitration and mediation through the Frequency Management Council.”

Analysts feel the waves of reverberations of MTN reneging on payment of its negotiated N780 billion fine which NCC imposed on it for infractions of its licence rule and subsequently heading for a Lagos court may have started rocking the giant corporate boat.
-Leadership