NFMC Wades into N34Bn Frequency Dispute

National Frequency Management Council (NFMC) has intervened in the vexed frequency storm involving MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), according to Prof. Umar Danbatta, EVC, NCC.

Danbatta, who addressed journalists during a meeting with the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) and the Nigerian Society of Engineering (NSE) said the NCC would not join issues with the NBC on the sale of the frequency which it had held in contempt as it was not consulted as the regulator and repository of telecommunications frequency in the country.

NBC had sold 700MHz spectrum to MTN for N34 billion without any bidding in a bid to raise money for the nation’s transition from analogue to digital broadcasting.

The frequency will enable MTN to render pay TV services.

Danbatta, however, said that the NFMC, on which both organisations were represented, had taken over the matter and was investigating the sale of the frequency to MTN, a move that had been condemned by other telecoms operators who were equally interested in the use of the spectrum.

The NCC boss said, “We are not going to join issues with the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, a sister agency of government.

“There is an inter-agency mediation mechanism at the level of Nigerian Frequency Management Council. I am happy today to report that the frequency council has indeed intervened in the 700GHz spectrum dispute.

‘‘The public will be informed at the right time about its resolution on the matter. I do not want to pre-empt the resolution of the Frequency Management Council on this matter but we are confident that it will do justice to it.”