Interconnection charges are due from Telco A to Telco B if a subscriber of Telco A originates a call to Telco B and the call is terminated on Telco B's network. In Glo's case, the Telecoms firm is owing interconnection charges to Airtel for calls made to Airtel's network by Glo subscribers.
Read the full notice below
"The Nigerian Communications Commission hereby notifies the general public and subscribers of Glomobile Limited (Glomobile) that approval has been granted for the partial disconnection of Glomobile from Airtel Networks Limited (Airtel) as a result of non-settlement of interconnect charges.
Glomobile was notified of the application and was given opportunity to comment and state its case. The Commission having examined the application and circumstances surrounding the indebtedness determined that the affected operator does not have sufficient reason for non-payment of interconnect charges.
All subscribers are therefore requested to TAKE NOTICE that:
1. The Commission has approved the Partial Disconnection of Glomobile by Airtel in accordance with Section 100 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 and the Guidelines on Procedure for Granting Approval to Disconnect Telecommunications Operators.
2. At the expiration of 10 days from the date of this notice, subscribers on the network of Glomobile will no longer be able to make calls to Airtel, but will be able to RECEIVE CALLS.
3. The Partial Disconnection however, will allow in-bound calls to the Glomobile network.
Please note that this disconnection will subsist until otherwise determined by the Commission."
Back in December of 2018, the NCC gave approval to MTN, IHS, and Airtel to partially disconnect interconnection debtors. Glo was one of them and was partially disconnected from MTN in July of this year. The matter was later resolved.
Deadline to resolve debt with Airtel is October 28th
The date of the NCC pre-disconnection notice is October 18th and a 10-day grace period to resolve the debt has been given, which is the 28th. After the deadline, Glo subscribers will be unable to make calls to the Airtel network but they will be able to receive calls.
What it means to you if you are one of Glo's 47 million subscribers
In a word, disruption. Business lines on the Glo network that need to place calls to customers and business partners on the Airtel network will be affected. The same impact will be felt for subscribers making personal calls.
Glo and Airtel have to meet at the negotiating table.
