USSD Services: NCC Worried as Banks Owe Telcos N42bn
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has expressed concerns over huge debts being owed telecommunications companies for services rendered to banks.
The Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, told newsmen during a virtual lecture Thursday that the huge debts have remained a big issue, adding that the Commission has been making efforts to ensure that the money is settled.
He gave an indicatation that the telcos could have withdrawn their services but cannot do so because the federal government would not be happy about this.
Danbatta said, “The issue of the USSD has become an issue between the telcos and the banks. The telecommunication companies provide the infrastructure which the banks leverage on to provide banking services of all kinds.
“Therefore it is expected that for this service someone should pay. No service is free. The investment in infrastructure that is driving the USSD service is a huge investment that the telcos made.”
“It is expected that they (telcos) will recoup their investments in order to continue and to expand the service. About N42bn that is owed the telcos has not been paid by the banks for the provision of this service.”
“The telecommunications companies cannot unilaterally withdraw this service because it will be seen as a subversive act, undermining the digital inclusion strategy of the present government.
“And no government will sit back and watch while services that empower citizens are being tampered with or withdrawn. No government will standby and watch this to happen.
“So in the next couple of days, we are poised to engage the banks and ensure we reach an amicable resolution where the first item on the agenda that will feature is the payment of this N42bn accumulated debts to the telecommunications companies.”
The Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, told newsmen during a virtual lecture Thursday that the huge debts have remained a big issue, adding that the Commission has been making efforts to ensure that the money is settled.
He gave an indicatation that the telcos could have withdrawn their services but cannot do so because the federal government would not be happy about this.
Danbatta said, “The issue of the USSD has become an issue between the telcos and the banks. The telecommunication companies provide the infrastructure which the banks leverage on to provide banking services of all kinds.
“Therefore it is expected that for this service someone should pay. No service is free. The investment in infrastructure that is driving the USSD service is a huge investment that the telcos made.”
“It is expected that they (telcos) will recoup their investments in order to continue and to expand the service. About N42bn that is owed the telcos has not been paid by the banks for the provision of this service.”
“The telecommunications companies cannot unilaterally withdraw this service because it will be seen as a subversive act, undermining the digital inclusion strategy of the present government.
“And no government will sit back and watch while services that empower citizens are being tampered with or withdrawn. No government will standby and watch this to happen.
“So in the next couple of days, we are poised to engage the banks and ensure we reach an amicable resolution where the first item on the agenda that will feature is the payment of this N42bn accumulated debts to the telecommunications companies.”
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