MTN fined in excess of GHS100,000 over data bundle challenges

The National Communications Authority has fined Mobile Network Operator, MTN for failing to produce a report on the recent technical challenges the company experienced and also not informing customers immediately about the challenge.

MTN is expected to pay over GHS100,000 for flouting NCA directives over the challenges.

Apart from the GHS100,000, MTN is also supposed to pay GH¢10,000 for each day it fails to produce and submit a report to the NCA after 4th December 2019.

The NCA earlier this week in a letter to MTN warned the company to immediately resolve its internet billing issues and compensate all affected customers.

It also told the company to submit a written report with details about the challenge and measures it is putting in place to avert any such occurrence in the future.

But the company is yet to do that, although its CEO, Selorm Adadevor in a Citi News interview said they had largely resolved the technical challenges and begun compensating affected customers.

The NCA however on Thursday, December 5, 2019 said it has imposed on MTN, “A fine of GH¢ 10,000 daily in accordance with Section N (7) of the Authority’s gazetted Schedule of Penalties for failure to submit the report by 4th December 2019. It should be noted that this Pecuniary Penalty is a fine of GH¢ 10,000 for each day the infraction persists from 4th December to such a time that MTN submits the report.”

It added that, “A fine of GH¢ 50,000 in accordance with Section N (23) of the Authority’s gazetted Schedule of Penalties for failure to give notice as soon as possible to the Authority, all affected persons including subscribers for challenges with billing inaccuracies regarding the purchase of their telecommunications service bundles.”

“A fine GH¢ 50,000 in accordance with Section N (23) of the Authority’s gazetted Schedule of Penalties for failure to give notice as soon as possible to the Authority, all affected persons including subscribers in accessibility of MTN’s Customers Care line.”

The NCA said MTN must pay all fines by close of business on Monday, December 11, 2019.