Airtel, NCC Bicker Over Operating License

By Tosin Olatokunbo

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC says the telecommunications regulatory agency is yet to renew the mobile operating license of Airtel Nigeria.

This followed a report quoting Airtel Nigeria managing Director, Segun Olusanya, to the effect that the telecoms firm’s license has been renewed by the government agency for another 10 years. The Airtel boss, however said he did not make such statement.

While responding to the issue NCC said the license is yet to be renewed, that the company’s request is still being considered.

This clarification is contained in a statement issued by NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, on Sunday, July 18, in Abuja.

Adinde stated that while Airtel Nigeria had applied for the renewal of the Unified Access Service (UASL) License, the application is yet to be approved as it is still undergoing the required regulatory process.

The statement from NCC reads, ‘’The attention of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been drawn to a recent statement on an online publication credited to the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Olusegun Ogunsanya, to the effect that the mobile operating licence of Airtel has been renewed by the Commission for another period of 10 years.

‘’Mr. Ogunsanya was said to have made the statement while speaking in Lagos on Wednesday, July 14, 202, during the media launch of Airtel’s corporate social responsibility programme, ‘Touching Lives 6’.

‘’The Commission wishes to state that while Airtel Nigeria has applied for the renewal of the Unified Access Service (UASL) Licence granted to it by the Commission, the application is yet to be approved as it is still undergoing the required regulatory process. This statement is issued for the guidance of our stakeholders,’’ NCC said.

The Air boss said he was misquoted, in a statement issues by the mobile telecoms company, signed by Emeka Oparah, Vice President, Corporate Communications & CSR, Airtel Networks Limited.

The company also stated that its current license has yet to expire. It will be renewable in November this year, the firm said.

The statement reads “During the launch of our flagship corporate social responsibility program titled Airtel Touching Lives, last week, a contrast was drawn between operating license and social license.

“Whilst the operating license is issued by NCC, we stated that a social license is earned by what a company does for its communities. We are very proud of our Touching Lives Program which gives support to the less privileged in our communities.

“However, for clarity, an operating license is always issued by NCC and our current license expires in November 2021. We have applied to NCC for its renewal ahead of this expiry date and the renewal process is in progress but yet to be concluded. We look forward to working with our various communities on the 6th edition of our Airtel Touching Lives Program,” the company said.