MTN, Glo, Others Snub Minister’s Directives, Say Voicemail Regulation Not Required

Telecommunications operators have swept the directive of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami to end voicemail charges under the carpet.

Pantami in November 2019 had directed all Telcos in the country to deactivate voicemail services on all existing phone lines.

The minister also ordered a reduction of data cost, stating that data price in Nigeria is too high.

But the operators under the aegis of Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) disregarded this order saying voicemail service on mobile telephone lines does not require policy or regulatory intervention from the federal government or its agencies.

The Chairman of ALTON, Gbenga Adebayo in his response further said subscribers who are not interested in the voice mail services can opt-out, so the intervention by the government would not be required.

Responding to the directive on data price cut Adebayo added that there are regulatory procedures and framework for price variation.

“We will continue to comply will all such provisions as may be directed by the NCC, our regulator, from time to time.”