LOOKS LIKE MTN IS IN A FRESH REGULATORY FINE

MTN hit by regulatory fine in Rwanda

A Rwandan regulator has imposed a fine equivalent to R112m on MTN, the JSE-listed telecommunications group said on Wednesday. The fine, a tiny fraction of the one imposed on it by Nigerian authorities in 2015, is a reminder of the complex regulatory challenges the operator faces in some of its markets.
The fine was imposed by the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority and “related to non-compliance with the directives issued by the regulator prohibiting the inclusion of MTN Rwanda in the MTN South and East Africa IT hub based in Uganda”.
“MTN has been engaging with the regulator on this matter over the past four months. MTN Rwanda is currently studying the official notification and will continue to engage with the regulator on this matter,” the group said.
In 2015, the Nigerian Communications Commission imposed a US$5,2bn fine on the group’s Nigerian subsidiary after it failed to disconnect more than 5m unregistered Sim cards. That fine was later reduced to about $1bn, but not before it had claimed the scalp of CEO Sifiso Dabengwa and led to a major group restructuring.
MTN operates in 22 countries in the Middle East in Africa. It’s most important markets are Nigeria, South Africa and Iran.
The group’s share price was trading at R120,53 at 12.51pm on Wednesday, down 1,2% on the session. The counter has fallen by 5,1% in the past 12 months. — (c) 2017 NewsCentral Media.