Telecommunications operators (telcos) -Airtel, Globacom, MTN and others have threatened to increase tariffs if the Federal Government fails to resolve the critical issues currently affecting the industry in the country. Speaking on behalf of the telcos at a media briefing in Lagos, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, issued the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum within which to address the discrepancies and challenges in the industry.
Adebayo said the seizure of cellular sites in Kogi State, concerns about degrading quality of services in Abuja, high cost of diesel, inflation and safety of telecom workers are the issues presently bedeviling the telecom industry in the country The Trumpet gathered.
The ALTON boss said all the telecoms operators had expressed concerns about the closure of telecommunications facilities in Kogi State through the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS).
“The action of KIRS was hinged on an ex parte court order it obtained on the unsubstantiated allegations that our members defaulted in tax payments to the state government, which is not the true, and access to these critical telecom sites has been denied.
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The issue is likely to lead to total communications blackout in Kogi State, parts of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja and possible impact on service availability in some parts of Nassarawa, Benue, Enugu, Anambra, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara and Niger states.
