GSM Wahala

Two GSM operators, MTN and Celtel, have lost their bid to evade payment of compensation to subscribers for poor services.


A Lagos Federal High Court directed them to comply forthwith, with the order of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCJ) on the payment of the compensation.

The court held that MTN’s and Celtel’s application challenging the NCC directive lacked merit.

MTN and Celtel had gone to the court, requesting for an interlocutory injunction to restrain the NCC from implementing its directive that they should pay N175 per subscriber for January, for not meeting key performance indicators on quality of service.

The NCC had on January 9, won the case instituted against it by the operators which are protesting the notices on payment of compensation to subscribers issued to them on September 19 and 20, last year.

I don't think this is a bad step towards restoring sanity in the system.

Service delivery should now be paramount for the GSM firms rather focusing on declaring huge benefits.