Telecoms regulator in the country,
the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has sanctioned four mobile network
operators to the tune of N22 million for contravention of the ban on lotteries
and promotions, since last quarter of 2012.
Head, Media and Public
Relations, at NCC, Mr. Reuben Muoka, confirmed this to DigitalSENSE Business
News on Thursday and listed the defaulting operators to include Airtel Networks Ltd, Emerging Markets Telecommunications
Services Ltd trading as Etisalat, Globacom Ltd and MTN Communications Nigeria
Ltd.
He
also said that they were to pay a total sum of N22, 000,000 (Twenty Two Million
Naira Only) being the cumulative amount in sanctions for contravening the ban
on promotions and lotteries in their respective networks as placed by the
Commission.
According to him, MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd, is to pay N10,000,000 (Ten
Million Naira) on account of five promotions at N2,000,000(Two Million Naira)
for each promotion while Etisalat is to pay N6,000,000 (Six Million
Naira) for three promotions in its network. Airtel is to pay N4,000,000 (Four
Million Naira) for running two promotions against the ban while Globacom will
pay N2,000,000 ( Two Million) for one promotion.
All the operators have seven days to
pay their respective sanction amounts from date of receipt of the sanction notice
on February 22, 2013, and are liable to payment of the sum of
N1,000,000 ( One Million Naira) for any day that the contravention persists.
Sanctions on MTN were as a result of
five promotions viz:
1.
Free Airtime for MTN to MTN calls
(8AM – 5PM), MTN to MTN SMS and free MB for Data. Dial *559#.
2.
Free N100.00 airtime for MTN to MTN
calls, Airtime Bonus valid for life. Dial *559#.
3.
MTN Super Saver, get 500%, bonus
valid till midnight. Dial *507#.
4.
Recharge with N100.00 today and get
N500 FREE credit instantly. Hurry and recharge before January 22nd.
In the case of Etisalat, three
promotions that attracted it sanctions include:
1.
Buy a MIFI device and get 1GB free
for six months.
2.
Buy a Router device and get 50 MB
free data spread over four months.
3.
Get 30% instant bonus on every plan
subscription/renewal over 200MB.
On the other hand, Airtel is being
sanctioned for two promotions:
1.
Dongle and MIFI Offerings
2.
Reverse Auction Service.
Globacom’s contravention is for one
promotion:
1. BUY Samsung Galaxy SIII, or Galaxy Note II and get free 500
MB on activation, and free 100MB X 6 Months.
The notice of the sanctions, signed
by the Commission’s Director of Legal and Regulatory Services, Ms. Josephine
Amuwa, said “in the event of further non-compliance with the ban, and or
refusal to pay the sanction amount within the stipulated time, the Commission
shall have no other option than to impose stiffer penalties in accordance with
the powers of the Commission, including but not limited to payment of
N1,000,000 (One Million Naira) for each day that the contravention persists.”
The notice added that the failure of
the service providers to discontinue the promotions in accordance with the
commission’s directives is a direct contravention of Guidelines on Adverts and
Promotions, as well as the Nigerian Communications (Enforcement Processes, etc)
Regulations 2005.
The Commission had in a letter dated
November 8, 2012, directed all the licensees to discontinue all promotions and
lotteries running on their networks with immediate effect.
This ban, Amuwa noted, covers
proposed and approved promotions and lotteries after the Commission was
inundated with several complaints from consumers and stakeholders against
various promotions in the various networks.
RN/DSBNews
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