NCC Fines MTN N1.04tr over SIM Registration Infraction

MTN Nigeria has been fined N1.04 trillion by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), over alleged breach of subscriber identity module (SIM) registration rules.Specifically, the telecommunications firm was alleged to have pre-registered SIM cards in its systems which made it impossible to verify the personal details of subscribers, thereby compromising national security.NCC through its Director, Public Affairs, Tony Ojobo, argued that MTN was discovered to be harbouring about 5.2million defective SIM cards on its network which it failed to deactivate.In justifying the fine imposition, Ojobo argued that since 2012, the telcos had been directed to correct the anomalies discovered on the biometric data of the SIM cards purportedly registered by the telcos and shipped to the regulator for safe-keeping but they had continued to vacillate.Meanwhile, MTN Nigeria has promised to resolve the matter with NCC.MTN in an electronic mail titled: ‘MTN Engages NCC over SIM registration Sanctions’ said, “Leading ICT Company in Nigeria, MTN, confirmed that the NCC has imposed a N1.4 trillion fine ($5.2billion) on MTN Nigeria.“This fine relates to the timing of the disconnection of the 5.1million MTN subscribers that were disconnected in August and September 2015 and is based on a N200,000 fine for each improperly registered subscriber.“MTN Nigeria is currently engaging with the NCC to resolve the matter.”