MTN pays first instalment of Nigerian fine

29 June 2016 - 21:30 By Thabiso Mochiko

MTN Nigeria has paid N30bn to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)‚ its first payment towards the settlement of a N330bn fine‚ MTN Nigeria CEO Ferdi Moolman said on Wednesday. The total fine equates $1.7bn. In October last year‚ the company was fined $5.2bn — subsequently reduced — for missing a deadline to disconnect 5.1m unregistered subscribers. Moolman said the payment was in addition to a payment of N50bn ($250m) made in "good faith" in February. This means MTN has to date paid N80bn ($282.25million).The company said it has won a 10-year frequency spectrum licence for the 2.6GHz band at auction. The licence will be used to deploy super fast‚ long term evolution wireless networks.Moolman said MTN Nigeria subscribers could expect distinct improvements in browsing speed‚ quality and experience. "This means that they will have fast access to high definition video streaming‚ as well as conferencing and calling‚ lag-free music streaming‚ and improved data uploads and downloads‚" he said in a statement.He said MTN paid N18.96bn to the NCC for the licence.According to MTN‚ the NCC has described this spectrum as a "significant trigger for a broadband revolution that will unlock benefits such as greater coverage‚ access‚ affordability and innovation‚ with the customer at the centre of these gains."MTN will increase its capital expenditure in Nigeria in 2017‚ substantially as it invests R11.1bn in upgrading and expanding its wireless and fixed-line network in that country...

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