Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) this evening slammed a total of N22 million fine on four GSM operators for contravening the ban on promotions and lotteries on their respective networks.
Ms. Josephine Amuwa, NCC director, Legal and Regulatory Services said that the affected operators are; MTN Nigeria, Etisalat Nigeria, Airtel and Globacom.
MTN Nigeria is to pay N10 million; Etisalat Nigeria N6 million while Airtel and Globacom are to pay N4 million and N2 million respectively.
MTN was fined for five promotions at N2 million each while N2million was imposed on Etisalat for three promotions.
NCC said Airtel ran two promotions while Globacom ran one.
Amuwa said that all the operators have seven days to pay their respective sanction amounts from date of receipt of the sanction notice on February 22, and are liable to payment of the sum of N1million for any day that the contravention persists.
According to NCC “sanctions on MTN were as a result of five promotions viz:; Free Airtime for MTN to MTN calls (8AM – 5PM), MTN to MTN SMS and free MB for Data. Dial *559#; Free N100.00 airtime for MTN to MTN calls, Airtime Bonus valid for life. Dial *559#; MTN Super Saver, get 500%, bonus valid till midnight. Dial *507# and 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:buy a MIFI device and get 1GB free for six months; buy a Router device and get 50 MB free data spread over four months and Get 30% instant bonus on every plan subscription/renewal over 200MB.
“On the other hand, Airtel is being sanctioned for two promotions: Dongle and MIFI Offering and Reverse Auction Service and Globacom’s contravention is for one promotion: buy Samsung Galaxy SIII, or Galaxy Note II and get free 500 MB on activation, and free 100MB X 6 Months” NCC said.
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 million for each day that the contravention persists”.
The notice stated 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.
The ban covered 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.
