By The customers of Exchange Telecommunications Limited a local and international Interconnect Carrier, the largest in Nigeria, with 4 Points-Of-Interconnect nationwide would no longer be able to use their services.
That is due to the disconnection approval granted by the Nigerian Communications Commission to the MTN Nigeria Communications Limited (MTN) as a result of non-settlement of interconnect charges.
According to a notice of disconnection issued by the Director, Public Affairs of the NCC, Mr Reuben Muoka the Exchange was notified of the application and was given opportunity to comment and state its case.
However, the Commission, having examined the application and circumstances surrounding the indebtedness, determined that Exchange does not have sufficient reason for non-payment of the interconnect charges.
Consequently, the NCC approved the Disconnection of Exchange to MTN in accordance with Section 100 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 and the Guidelines on Procedure for Granting Approval to Disconnect Telecommunications Operators, 2012.
The approval stipulated that at the expiration of 5 (Five) days from the date of this notice, MTN will discontinue passing voice and data traffic through Exchange and will, thereafter, utilise alternative channels in interconnecting with other Network Service Providers.
Exchange Telecommunications Limited was created in 2001 and awarded the Interconnect Exchange license. Under new management in 2015, Exchange Telecoms resumed operations on the 14th of February 2015 and became the largest clearing house in Nigeria within 18 months. In 2016, Exchange Telecoms was awarded the IDA license and opened a presence in Telehouse, London.
