MTN decries industry misnomers

MTN Nigeria, one of the leading telecommunications firms, bemoaned the operational challenges warning they could affect further development of the sector if unchecked.

Speaking at the company's head office in Lagos, Corporate Service Executive, Akinwale Goodluck, said the challenges had major impact on the achievement of the company in recent times.

Goodluck listed the challenges to include multiple taxation and suffocating regulation regime, near exclusive reliance on self-generated power, poor infrastructure, rising cost of funds, and mounting interconnect debt among the operators.

He noted that telecoms operators in the country currently face the challenge of not only stagnating revenues but also increasing operating expenses despite undertaking a number of initiatives such as infrastructure sharing, outsourcing and increasing asset productivity.


Goodluck pointed out that the N34 billion that MTN spent on diesel for its generators in 2013 alone was enough to build 5 200 new base stations, which would have significantly improved the quality of service being rendered.

He pleaded with the government and regulatory agencies to create an enabling operational environment where telecoms business would thrive.

Goodluck noted that if such an environment was not created, telecoms businesses might begin to pack up in the near future.

On the company's 2013 financial year report, Goodluck said MTN Nigeria’s operating expenditure was N260.57 billion.

With local contractors taking the largest share of N96.7 billion, N63.69 billion for trade partner support and N59.8bn interconnect fees.

He stated that despite obvious challenges and the suspension of services in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states due to the upsurge in terrorist activities by the Boko Haram sect.