NCA to force all telcos onto Clearing House
The National Communications Authority (NCA) is seeking an amendment to portions of the Electronic Communications Act to make it mandatory for all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to connect to the Interconnect Clearing House (ICF).
Advertisement
The move is intended to avoid any legal wrangling that might arise when the company selected to operate the ICH in Ghana, Afriwave, finally replaces Subah Info Solutions in May, this year.
The Director-General of NCA, Mr William Tevie, disclosed this to the GRAPHIC BUSINESS in Accra on January 28.
There have been concerns raised to the effect that the MNOs are more likely to frustrate the smooth implementation of the ICH when the company in charge finally commences operations because there is no law binding them to do so.
“We have taken note of this, hence the move to seek an amendment to give the process some legal backing”, he said.
In spite of the concerns, the NCA Director-General noted that “the NCA is happy to state that all the MNOs have cooperated fully with the exercise to kick-start the process in May this year when the contract with Subah Info Solutions finally expires.”
Telcos complaints
Until the selection of Afriwave was finalised, the MNOs had vehemently rejected the idea of the setting up of an Interconnect Clearing House (ICH) meant to provide a common, independent mechanism to resolve disputes and the settlement of interconnect accounting traffic for all the existing and future operators in Ghana.
However, upon a number of consultations by the sector ministry and the NCA to explain the rationale for its establishment, calm has returned for its smooth implementation.
Other Trending Stories
MNOs comply
The engagement of Afriwave requires that the MNOs dump the international incoming CDRs onto both Subah and Afriwave servers as part of the transitional process and with the clear objective to enable all parties to identify any shortfalls and make the necessary corrections before the end of Subah’s contract.
As a result, Mr Tevie explained that “there is a parallel phase being run before the changeover to ensure that at any point in time, the government does not lose revenue.”
NCA denies allegations
In a related development, the NCA has refuted claims that it was paying monies to Afriwave Telecom Limited for its services in monitoring international traffic and revenue from the telcos.
According to the NCA, Afriwave, the company that won the bid to monitor telecom traffic and ensure revenue assurance, has not started operations officially and therefore, does not deserve any payment for its services.
Mr Tevie said “Afriwave will start operations in May after the contract for Subah Info Solutions has come to an end officially.”
He explained that following the successful selection of Afriwave after a competitive tender process, the NCA licensed the company for a full range of services which included monitoring international traffic and revenue assurance.
“Afriwave has since installed and integrated its systems with that of all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to ensure a continuous and smooth transition period when the contract of Subah Info Solutions ends in May, 2016”, he said.
Mr Tevie noted that considering the arrangements under the contract, there was no way the NCA would be paying for services not rendered and described the allegations to the effect that Afriwave was being paid as unfortunate and unnecessary.