News from BusinessTech
MTN is back in the firing line, this time in Uganda, after the Ugandan Communications Commission (UCC) said it may impose fines on telecoms operators for poor service delivery.
BusinessTech confirmed with the UCC that a decision would be taken within the next two weeks, although it is unclear just how much the fines will amount to.
IT News Africa cited Godfrey Mutabazi, the executive director of UCC as saying: “We started doing benchmarking and we are compiling the results and within the next two to three weeks, we shall release the results and once we approve the sanctions, then the fines will be imposed.”
Uganda has as many as six operators including MTN Uganda, Orange Telecom, WARID Telecom, Airtel, Uganda Telecom and Smile Telecom.
In 2011, the UCC found that all six operators were not meeting the minimum operating standards, standards required by the watchdog.
Earlier this month, regulators in Nigeria fined four mobile phone carriers, including MTN Nigeria, a total of $7.3 million over poor service.
The Nigeria Communications Commission also fined Bharti Airtel, Abu Dhabi-based Etisalat, and local firm Globacom. Etisalat and MTN were ordered to pay $2.25 million apiece, while Airtel was asked to fork out $1.68 million and Globacom $1.125 million.
The fines were issued for poor service, dropped calls and bad line quality in March and April.
