Cancellation of 2.3GHz: Count us out – Galaxy

One of the 40 applicants in the controversial N4,104,000,000 billion sale of 2.3 Gega Hertz (GHz) spectrum, Galaxy Wireless Communications Limited, has refuted media reports that it originated petition that staled the process as claimed in some quarters.

ITRealms Online recalls that last month, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had announced the granting of three national frequency licenses in the 2.3 Gega Hertz (GHz) band after they successfully paid the fixed price of N1,368,000,000 for each of the four slots on offer in the auction that closed on May 8, 2009, which amounted to N4.1bn.

The successful companies include Mobitel Nigeria Limited, Spectranet Limited and Multi-Links Telkom Limited. While the supposed fourth beneficiary, Galaxy Wireless Ltd, reportedly could not pay the full fixed price for the slot at the end of business based on the deadline, “and therefore, did not meet the conditions for the offer of license,” according to NCC.

But reacting to some media reports that its petition steer up the controversy that surrounded the frequency, especially between the NCC and Ministry of Information and Communication, Galaxy Wireless said that they did not write to anybody including the presidency.

“Galaxy Wireless did not petition President Umaru Yar’Adua or any person either, directly or indirectly regarding the recent controversial licensing of national frequencies in the 2.3GHz band by NCC,” the media relations manager of Galaxy, Ms. Joy Idoko, insisted.

She also hinted that there was an editorial entitled “Controversy over telecom licenses” published on June 8, and noted that the company will not be making any further statements on this issue, as this matter has since been referred to the company lawyers.

Galaxy, she said, is a mature corporate entity comprising experienced professionals who are dedicated to the deployment of technological solutions to communication experiment on-going in the country.

As said by her, Galaxy Wireless wishes to state categorically and “in very strong terms that the editorial report was completely false as Galaxy Wireless did not petition President Yar’Adua or any person for that matter either directly or indirectly regarding the said telecom licenses.”

Galaxy Wireless Communications is licensed by NCC and is incorporated locally as an affiliate of Canada-based Galaxy Wireless Networks Inc. (GWN), a broadband wireless technology integrator.

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D