Telecom
NCC Blames Exchanges, Others for High Indebtedness
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has attributed the high incidence of interconnection indebtedness in the telecommunications industry to inability of Interconnect exchanges to pay operators interconnect charges, as well as guidelines on disconnect of owing operators.
The commission has also approved the new “Guidelines on Procedure for Granting of Approval to Disconnect Telecommunication Operators” which it said was necessary because the current one approved since 2004 has outlived its usefulness.
Dr. Eugene Juwah, executive vice chairman, NCC who stated this at the regulatory forum on the high incidence of interconnection indebtedness in the telecommunications industry held yesterday in Lagos said that interconnection indebtedness has become a major source of conflict and challenge which has the potential of destabilizing the success recorded in the industry.
“The issue of interconnection indebtedness is peculiar to Nigeria as it has been observed that this problem does not exist in other jurisdictions,” he noted.
He said that it had been observed that some operators took advantage of the provisions of the old guidelines to deliberately refuse to promptly discharge their financial obligations to their interconnect partners.
The NCC chief noted that this was possible because of the processes that had to be followed before the Commission could authorise the disconnection of an operator.
He said that several operators had also noted that Interconnect Exchanges had also become a major part of the problem.
”They now owe other operators interconnection charges, thus compounding the problem they were meant to alleviate. The problem has continued to escalate and the current cumulative debt profile in the industry is worrisome; if the continued high interconnection indebtedness is left unchecked, it will impact negatively on the industry,” Juwah said.
According to him, the provisions of the new guidelines have taken into consideration the disconnection of all operators, including interconnect exchanges, and shortened the process for granting approval for disconnection.
”This is a measure to ensure that interconnection indebtedness is not detrimental to the effective administration of viable telecommunication businesses,” the EVC said.
Yetunde Akinloye, assistant director, Legal and Regulatory Services, NCC, said that interconnection was critical as it enabled subscribers to communicate across and within networks.
Akinloye said that the new guidelines would promote public confidence and ensure stability, transparency, competition, innovation and growth in the telecoms industry.
It would be recalled that Nigeria CommunicationWeek last week reported that telecommunications operators in the country have reverted to the old system of passing traffic directly without going through clearing houses.
At the moment over 90 percent of traffic exchanged by operators in the industry are routed among operators directly without the use of any clearing house.
Uche Onwudiwe, chief operating officer, Interconnect Clearinghouse Nigeria, one of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) licensed clearing house, said that the reappearance of high indebtedness in the telecom sector in spite of establishment of Clearing Houses is as a result of decision of most operators to route their traffic among themselves.
Onwudiwe, said that such operators are claiming that making use of clearing house in routing their traffic is additional cost compared to direct routing of traffic.
A clearinghouse or interconnect exchange is a company or association that transfers billing records and/or performs financial clearing functions between carriers that allow their customers to use each other’s networks.
With the introduction of Travel Saga, a premium, fast-paced gaming experience that is currently live and accessible to customers on its network, Globacom has lifted the bar for mobile entertainment in the country.
Travel Saga is a story-driven, intricately connected role-playing game designed to provide the thrill, complexity, and competitive intensity of some of the most well-known action games in the world.
The game, which has been painstakingly optimized for mobile devices, redefines mobile gaming as a full-fledged digital battlefield by translating a console-grade experience onto data-enabled handsets.
Fundamentally, Travel Saga takes users on quick virtual journeys against recognizable international landscapes. In a dynamic, ever-evolving gaming environment, players are thrown into furious missions, fierce fights, and ever-expanding tales where talent, strategy, and endurance determine who rises through the ranks to become a true war hero.
In addition to the excitement of fighting, users are encouraged to go to various locations, take part in thrilling challenges, and participate in intense competition for in-app rewards like points and victory badges. With each encounter and accomplishment, the immersion increases with each level, maintaining momentum and excitement.
Flexible subscription plans with one-time or auto-renewal choices are available to subscribers for the service, which costs ₦100 per day and ₦250 per week. By dialing *70021#, customers can quickly subscribe and gain instant access to the action.
With Travel Saga, Glo reaffirms its dedication to innovation and high-end digital experiences, making top-notch gaming easily accessible to its customers. The game offers uninterrupted action, adventure, and competition, all smoothly supported by the Glo network.
SHELT, a leading cybersecurity-as-a-service provider, has earned inclusion in the 2025 MSSP 250, the annual ranking of the world’s top 250 Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) by MSSP Alert, a CyberRisk Alliance publication.
SHELT
The list evaluates firms on business performance, service breadth, and industry impact, spotlighting those excelling in growth, operational excellence, and advanced managed security amid rising cyber threats. Selection criteria include annual recurring revenue, profitability, workforce expansion, business growth, and the depth of managed security offerings.
SHELT’s recognition underscores its investments in scalable security operations, threat intelligence, and tailored managed services across multiple regions, enabling clients to navigate complex risk landscapes effectively.
“Being recognised in the MSSP 250 is a meaningful milestone for our team,” stated Youssef Abillama, CEO of SHELT. “It validates our focus on building practical, resilient security services that help organisations manage risk and respond effectively to today’s evolving cyber threats.”
The company hailed the honour as testament to its teams’ dedication and expertise worldwide, reaffirming commitment to enhancing capabilities and delivering trusted cybersecurity solutions.
Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook, has appointed Dina Powell McCormick, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, as its new president and vice chairman, bolstering its leadership amid aggressive AI and infrastructure expansion.
Dina Powell McCormick
The announcement, made on Monday, positions Powell McCormick – who recently stepped down from Meta’s board after eight months – to guide overall strategy, including multi-billion-dollar investments in data centres and global partnerships.
A Goldman Sachs veteran with 16 years in senior roles and prior stints as deputy national security adviser under Trump and in the Bush administration, she brings deep finance and international ties to the role.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hailed her as “uniquely qualified” for the company’s next growth phase, while President Trump praised the move on Truth Social as a “fantastic choice”.
The hire signals Meta’s efforts to strengthen White House relations, following recent dinners with Trump and U.S. investment pledges worth hundreds of billions
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