NCC slashes mobile interconnection fees by 43% (Namibia)

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Namibian Communication Commission has passed a resolution under which the mobile-to-mobile network interconnection fees has been slashed by 43% to NAD0.60 with effect from 1 July, beginning of a four-phase plan ending January 2011, when a single charge of NAD0.30 per minute will apply, 72% less than the existing rate of NAD1.06. Accordng to a media report, the interconnection fees for mobile-to-fixed line, fixed-to-mobile and international-to-mobile through the network of incumbent fixed line operator Telecom Namibia have also been standardised to NAD0.60.
NCC decision was driven bt complaints from Cell One and Telecom Namibia, who accused MTC, the market leader of charging high interconnection fees. charges. The regulator’s statement says that ‘asymmetric termination rates are not the best tools to facilitate market entry,’ adding that ‘the prescribed ceiling for January 2011 for termination rates includes a 25% mark-up over the estimated cost of termination.’