The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is planning to suspend the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) service if banks fail to settle a mounting N42 billion debt owed to telecom operators. The NCC may also publish a list of defaulting banks before the week ends, giving customers two weeks to find alternative transaction methods and banks two weeks to pay their outstanding debts to avoid disconnection.
The Nigerian Communications Commission is planning to take drastic measures to end the lingering dispute between telcos and banks over the unstructured supplementary service data debt, TheCable understands.
Sources close to the conversation said the commission may suspend the USSD service and publish a list of banks still owing telcos for the service.Although it is uncertain when the suspension will be officially announced, the list of defaulters may be published before the week ends.The development, which may be part of the federal government’s efforts to address industry challenges, comes amid telcos’ push for a tariff hike.Analysis of media reports shows that the USSD debt has risen by 681.
Another source said the commission believes that the banks are treating the issue with levity, hence they want the public to be aware of the imminent USSD suspension.Speaking on the agency’s plan to publish the names of financial institutions still owing, he said the public notice will be addressed to customers, stating that “the underlisted banks are yet to pay”.
It is understood that with the public notice, the NCC intends to give the consumers two weeks to come up with their alternative plans for making transactions, while banks would also get two weeks to pay the outstanding debt or be disconnected.
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