Ghana’s National Communications Authority has ordered MTN, that country’s largest mobile operator, to stop adding new subscribers to its network because network quality “continues to deteriorate”.

MTN Ghana has 11m subscribers in a country of 25m people, according to a report on Bloomberg, a news wire. The instruction from the communications authority takes effect immediately. MTN Ghana is controlled by the South African headquartered MTN Group. Source: Bloomberg

Nigeria warns of fines on operators
In a related development in Nigeria, the country’s communications technology minister, Omobola Johnson, has warned that the country could impose additional fines on telecommunications operators if their service is not improved during December.

According to Bloomberg, the Nigerian Communications Commission fined operators, including the biggest operator, MTN a combined US$7,4m in May for failing to meet minimum service standards. Source: Bloomberg

Kenya cuts interconnect rates again
The Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) has again slashed mobile termination rates. The commission has cut the rate, which operators charge each other to carry calls between their networks, by 34%.

The new rate is KSh1,44/minute (about R0,14/minute), from a previous rate of KSh2,21/minute (R0,22c/minute). Smaller operators in Kenya have been lobbying for the reduction, a move opposed by the country’s biggest mobile operator, Safaricom.

A report on the Business Daily Africa website quotes CCK director-general Francis Wangusi as saying that the new rate will be backdated to July. “The rates are expected to increase competition and encourage the providers to offer better services.”

The rate has come down from KSh4,42/minute (R0,44/minute) in 2009.

In South Africa, mobile termination rates will fall to R0,40/minute in March 2013 from a high of R1,25/minute four years earlier. Source: Business Daily Africa