Four GSM operators suffer penalty over poor QoS

For the first time in the history of Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications, four Nigerian mobile service providers, MTN Nigeria, Etisalat, Airtel and Globacom were at the weekend penalised to a cumulative sum of N1,170,000,000.

Also, NCC says the current penalties signal a new regime of quality of service management in the Nigerian telecommunications industry as promised by the leadership of the Commission under Dr. Eugene Juwah. 

Announcing this penalty, industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) attributed it to poor quality of services rendered to their different subscribers in the months of March and April 2012.

According to the Head, Media and Public Relations at NCC, Mr. Reuben Muoka, the details of the penalties already communicated to the different operators indicate that MTN Nigeria Communications and Etisalat, will pay the sum of N360,000,000 each while Airtel is to pay the sum of N270,000,000; whereas Globacom attracted the least of the penalty in the sum of N180,000,000.

All the operators are to pay the penalties on or before May 21, 2012 or be liable to payment of additional N2,500,000, per day for as long as the contravention persists.

 The penalties are as a result of the contravention of the provisions of the Quality of Service Regulations by the Nigerian Communications Commission as the operators failed to meet with the minimum standard of quality of service including the key performance indicators (KPIs).

The Commission, he said, has in line with the provisions of the regulation, monitored the performance of the operators on the different parameters as provided and the result showed that the service providers  are in contravention of the provisions.

He said, paragraph 13 and Schedule 3 Paragraph 2 of the Quality of Service Regulation 2012, stipulate that any company which contravenes this provision will be liable to pay fine as to the tune of N15,000,000.00 for each parameter for a service contravened in the month of March, 2012.

NCC reiterates a further sum of N2,500,000 is attracted for each parameter for a service for each day the contravention continued throughout the month of April, 2012.

ITRealms Online confirms that in the letter communicating the penalties to the different operators,  signed by the Director, Legal and Regulatory Services, Ms. Josephine Amuwa, and the Head of  Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement, Engr. Ubale Maska, the Commission noted the performances in the months of January and February 2012 as being below the specified thresholds, “however, for the purpose of enforcement of the new Quality of Service Regulations, the Commission had taken these periods as grace period.”

Remmy Nweke

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