The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has refuted media report purportedly claiming that South African government refused to grant submarine cable rights to Nigerian companies.

NCC stated: “The attention of the Commission has been drawn to the claim from some quarters that Nigerian companies are being denied cable landing rights by South African government, while a local company with South African interest was recently granted a similar licence by the Commission.

“The Commission hereby confirms that a landing right licence was offered to MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, a company duly registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria and operating as a local Nigerian company, after it had fulfilled all the rigourous process requirements of the Commission which lasted for over a period of  about six months and approved by the Board of the Commission.

“The current Nigerian laws allow for 100% ownership of any business in Nigeria by a foreign entity.  Therefore ownership structure with respect to Nigerian registered businesses that apply for licence to do business in the ICT field, has never been a qualifying condition.