We are yet to be informed formally – MTN responds to NCA’s policy on monopoly

MTN Ghana says it is yet to receive a formal notice on the government’s decision to implement policies aimed at creating a level-playing field for all telcos.

Although the telecommunication giants welcome what could effectively break the back of its monopoly, it said it had no qualms with the regulator’s decision.

In a statement, the company said, “MTN Ghana respects the NCA’s purview to regulate the telecommunication sector in Ghana-based on legislation and best practices.”

“However, MTN Ghana has not yet received the formal notification from the regulator and awaits this to assess the details,” the statement read.

MTN’s market share is 75% voice and 67% for data.

The company’s remark comes after the Ministry of Communications’ policy direction that it would be using the Electronic Communications (EC) Act 2008 and the National Telecommunications Policy to address the “imbalances” of the sector.

The Ministry explained that per the National Communication Policy, any operator with more than 40% market share in voice, data, SMS and value-added services like Mobile Money, is considered a Significant Market Power (SMP).

This designation means the government is bound to take steps to “corrective measures under the law to facilitate more market competition.”

The government expressed fears that “this imbalance potentially exposes the country to the dictates of the dominant operator and negatively impacts on competition and choice for the consumer as well as investments within the sector”

Gov’t set to break MTN ‘monopoly’ 

The company, has therefore, refrained from making any public statements on the said matter.

It has also assured its customers of its commitment to deliver a bold new digital world in the country, provide an enabling technology to support Ghana’s digital economy and drive productivity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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