Business Briefs
THE Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has revised the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data, USSD, pricing to allow mobile network operators and financial institutions negotiate mutually beneficial rates. Prof. Umar Danbatta, executive vice chairman, NCC, said the commission amended the determination earlier issued in July 2019 by removing the price floor and the cap.
Danbatta said each USSD session was 20 seconds at N1.63 per session on the MNO network. He said the cost should form the basis of negotiations between MNOs and other related service providers using USSD channels.
The amendment was carried out after a dispute between MNOs and financial institutions on the applicable charges for USSD services and the method of billing. The NCC, in the amended determination, which took effect from August 1, said that if MNOs and financial service providers were unable to agree on rates, it would intervene and the commission’s decision would be final and binding.
The telecoms regulators said the refusal to pay for services provided or to negotiate in good faith would lead to discontinuation of the provision of the service, the possible withdrawal of the USSD shortcode and/ or imposition of regulatory sanctions.
– Aug. 11, 2020 @ 10:12 GMT |
Tags: NCC revises USSD pricing for telcos
