NCC Sanctions GLO Over New SIM Cards, Tower Installation

For failing to comply with the ban on sale of fully activated new SIM cards and guidelines on technical specification for installation of masts and towers, Globacom has incurred the wrath of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC. The agency, therefore, has issued it two notices of sanctions.

The leading telecoms giant is expected to pay a fine of N1million within 21 days of receipt of the notice or face further sanctions by the regulatory agency.

NCC compliance and monitoring reports received from several locations in the country indicated that most of the SIM cards sold by Globacom were already fully activated, a situation which NCC forbids.

After several correspondences conveying the findings to Globacom and a directive to fully comply by 17 February, NCC alleged that the company failed to comply.

The Commission said that further compliance monitoring indicated that Globacom Ltd was, no doubt, in contravention of the directive on the ban on sales of fully activated SIM cards in Anambra, Borno, Kano, Katsina and Plateau states as Globacom SIM cards purchased in April 2011 in these states were fully activated as calls were made unrestricted from the new SIM cards.

The Commission thereby issued notice of sanction on Globacom, having failed to comply with the said directive in accordance with the provisions of Section 55 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, and the Nigerian Communications (Enforcements Processes etc) Regulation 2005, and, therefore, liable as follows:

•Payment of a penalty in the sum of N5,000,000 within seven( 7) days from the date of the notice and that additional sum of N500,000 shall be paid by Globacom Ltd every additional day as long as the contravention persists.

•That upon continuous failure to comply with the directive, the Commission may deny Globacom Ltd other regulatory services and /or invoke its powers under section 45 (a,b & d) of NCA 2003.

In the case of non-compliance with the guidelines on Technical Specifications for Installation of Masts and Towers/Failure to Provide Information Regarding Globacom Ltd’s Mast at Gboko, Benue State, Globacom, according to source is said to be in contravention of Section 65 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, the Second Schedule of the Nigerian Communications (Enforcement Processes Etc ) Regulation 2005, Chapter1, 5 of the Relevant Guidelines on Masts and Towers.