The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has appointed Detecon International and PriceWaterHouseCoopers (PWC) as consultants and advisors to the Commission for the review of current interconnect rates among the Nigerian telecom service providers.
The two consulting firms are to conduct cost study as well as international benchmarking studies as a follow up to the one conducted in Nigeria in 2006, which led to the enactment of the existing fixed and mobile termination rates in the country.
The consultants will be having sessions with the operating companies during the months of March and April 2009, while their reports are expected to be submitted to the Commission before the end of next month.
The NCC said that with the growth of the nation’s subscriber base and changes experienced in the operating environment, it has become necessary to review the interconnect rates so as to be in tune with current realities.
Engr. Ernest Ndukwe, executive vice chairman of the NCC, said: “We are happy that the two well respected international firms are involved in the study and we expect the operating companies to give the consultants full cooperation.”
Interconnect rates are the rates which service providers pay to each other for terminating calls on their fixed or mobile networks.