Nigeria: GSM Operators Bared From Acquiring M-Tel.Byline: Mamta03 A new guideline has been released for the privatisation of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), which bares current GSM operators from bidding for M-TEL, the GSM component of NITEL. At a press conference addressed by the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE BPE abbr. Bachelor of Physical Education ) Dr. Christopher Dr. John R. Christopher, known popularly as "Dr. Christopher" was one of very few nationally prominent doctors of herbal medicine of the middle third of the 20th century, a "dark ages" of herbalism and was responsible for the herbal renaissance of the 1960s. Anyanwu at the conference hall of the BPE in Abuja yesterday, he said this was as a result of an advice given to them by the regulatory body, the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC NCC See National Clearing Corporation (NCC). ). Following this development, MTN MTN A short-form for Medium Term Note. MTN Medium term notes issued by corporations, much like shorter-term commercial paper. MTN See medium-term note (MTN). , Globacom, Zain and Etisalat which have submitted expression of interest to acquire NITEL, have been effectively blocked from doing so. He also announced that NITEL is going to be unbundled into units and each sold separately with all bidders free to buy any combination of units subject to the new conditions approved for the sell of NITEL. Said he: " The present GSM license holders (that is MTN, Etisalat, Zain and Glo) are disqualified dis·qual·i·fy tr.v. dis·qual·i·fied, dis·qual·i·fy·ing, dis·qual·i·fies 1. a. To render unqualified or unfit. b. To declare unqualified or ineligible. 2. from buying the mobile arm of NITEL (that is, M-TEL) if NITEL is sold as a single unbundled unit given that they are presently holders of GSM licenses." He said that NCC insisted that the purchase of M-TEL by any of the present GSM holders would present competition challenges and will conflict with the regulator's guidelines and licensing conditions. He also disclosed that given that Glo and NITEL hold Second National Operators (SNO SNO Sudbury Neutrino Observatory SNO Second Network Operator SNO Sakon Nakhon, Thailand (Airport Code) SNO Società dei Neurologi, Neurochirurghi e Neuroradiologi Ospedalieri (Italy) ) licenses,"NCC ruled that Glo is disqualified from purchasing a bundled NITEL as it would leave Glo with two SNO license and would hence, be anti-competition." He assured however that any of the local operating firms can purchase NITEL alone without M-TEL and SAT3, stating further that 'a reserved price tag should be placed on each unbundled unit of NITEL in proportion of its potential market value and asset base." Advantage of the new arrangement, according to the boss of BPE, is that each buyer will likely pay a higher price for the component it values most important for its strategic plan, noting that 'it will thereby enable government to make more money from the entire privatization privatization: see nationalization. privatization Transfer of government services or assets to the private sector. State-owned assets may be sold to private owners, or statutory restrictions on competition between privately and publicly owned process.' Copyright : Euclid Infotech Pvt. Ltd. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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