By FUNMILOLA GBOTEKU

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved the disconnection of Exchange Telecommunications Ltd. from MTN Nigeria network due to the non-settlement of interconnect charges.

The commission made this known in a public notice signed by Mr Reuben Muoka, the Public Affairs Director at NCC, on Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Exchange Telecommunications is a local and international interconnect carrier.

“The Nigerian Communications Commission hereby notifies the public that approval has been granted for the disconnection of Exchange Telecommunications Ltd. (Exchange) from MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd. (MTN) as a result of non-settlement of interconnect charges,” NCC said.

The commission noted that the Exchange was notified of the application and was given opportunity to comment and state its case.

It said that the commission, having examined the application and circumstances surrounding the indebtedness, determined that the Exchange does not have sufficient reason for non-payment of the interconnect charges.

NCC said the disconnection of the Exchange Telecommunications to MTN was in accordance with Section 100 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 and the Guidelines on Procedure for Granting Approval to Disconnect Telecommunications Operators, 2012.

“At the expiration of five days from the date of this notice, MTN will discontinue passing voice and data traffic through Exchange and will, thereafter, utilise alternative channels in interconnecting with other network service providers.

“Please note that this disconnection will subsist until otherwise determined by the commission,” it said. (NAN)