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In Ghana smaller telecom companies, which are being led by Airtel 
Ghana, are now seeking cover under the National Communications Authority
 (NCA) against low tariff promotions held by larger telecom operators 
such as Vodafone and Tigo.

According to a report by <a href="http://ghana-news.adomonline.com/technology/2015/March-5th/smaller-telcos-run-to-nca-for-cover.php">Adom News</a>,
 Airtel has written to the NCA and proposed a number of regulatory 
regimes including controls on off-net and on on-net tariffs and the need
 to declare a significant market player (SMP) as a tool to control 
competition.

Subsequent to Airtel’s proposal, NCA implemented a GHP 4 per minute 
minimum interconnect rate, which was accepted by all, and then asked 
each operator to do their respective position papers on the on-net bit.

According to Adom News, the mobile operators were unaware that it was
 Airtel that made the proposal to the regulator. It turned out that MTN 
took a neutral position while Vodafone and Tigo have expressed 
opposition.

Glo joined Airtel to support the proposed protectionist policy while 
the smallest operator, Expresso, is said to be opposed to the move to 
control on-net tariff, which is meant to protect smaller firms. The NCA 
still went ahead and proposed a minimum on-net tariff of GHP 4 per 
minute, dividing the telecom industry.

Two of the telcos are currently in court opposing the move. According
 to Adom News, Airtel Ghana admitted that it did write to the NCA and 
made those proposals to ensure the general sustainability of and fair 
competition in the industry.

Adom News revealed that Vodafone and Tigo have taken the matter to 
the Electronic Communications Tribunal seeking to thwart the move 
because they believe it is not in the interest of the consumer, who 
deserves the freebies if a telco can afford it. The tribunal is yet to 
set a date for hearing to begin. 
Credit: itnewsafrica.com

Telco firms seek NCA intervention on tariffs

In Ghana smaller telecom companies, which are being led by Airtel Ghana, are now seeking cover under the National Communications Authorit...

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oLIHUJf_TwLdnLo1EO0p5Rsy-BmrnVQF2-PevwdduSXXPXzabKrkD8ggk9Q3k3Wsv9YtsVeZzW3ruG_q1ip-K3wbqE_JR5DNERA8uIr6_LjWFuxPswNSUQ3Mhgin45N_krHgkipNBzwn/s1600/Vodafone-Ghana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oLIHUJf_TwLdnLo1EO0p5Rsy-BmrnVQF2-PevwdduSXXPXzabKrkD8ggk9Q3k3Wsv9YtsVeZzW3ruG_q1ip-K3wbqE_JR5DNERA8uIr6_LjWFuxPswNSUQ3Mhgin45N_krHgkipNBzwn/s1600/Vodafone-Ghana.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
A leaked report, revealed by <a href="http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/artikel.php?ID=345480">Ghanaweb.com,</a>
 from the Revenue Assurance Audit commissioned by the National 
Communications Authority (NCA) has laid accusations against mobile 
operators, including Vodafone, for charging below the approved rate. The
 report also noted, according to Vodafone Ghana, that because of 
unapproved deductions by the operators, the state could not make the 
required revenue from incoming international calls. According to 
Vodafone Ghana, it has denied reports that it is charging below the 
approved fee of GHC 0.19 for incoming international calls.

According to Vodafone, the authenticity of the supposed leaked report
 is questionable since the audit findings are not accurate. Vodafone 
said that as a multinational company listed on major stock exchanges 
across the globe, it does not follow practices that will make an impact 
on its market value and global reputation. Vodafone said its operations 
were never found to have caused any tax revenue losses to government.

According to <a href="http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/artikel.php?ID=345480">Ghanaweb.com</a>, the following statement has been released by Vodafone Ghana:

The attention of Vodafone Ghana has been drawn to a document making 
the rounds concerning a National Communications Authority (NCA) audit 
that imposed fines on the company last year.

Vodafone understands the depth of government and public interest in 
this issue and is committed to lay bare the facts accurately and in a 
transparent manner.

Vodafone wishes to emphasise that as a company, its code of business 
ethics, reporting standards and governance processes do not compromise 
on any financial malfeasance. Vodafone reports on its business and 
financial performance, on a monthly basis, to the Government of Ghana 
(GoG) which is a 30% shareholder. Vodafone is audited by the reputable 
external auditors, Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PWC).

Vodafone’s operations as a multinational company listed on major 
stock exchanges across the globe; do not countenance practises that 
could impact on its market value and global reputation. It is pertinent 
to point out that in 2012; Vodafone was lauded by the Ghana Revenue 
Authority (GRA) as one of the highest corporate taxpayers in the 
country, due to the importance it places on being a good corporate 
citizen.

As a responsible company with a huge reputation as the most admired 
telecoms brand in Ghana, Vodafone wants to make the following 
clarifications: It is an established fact that the NCA commissioned an 
independent revenue assurance audit in February 2013 into Vodafone’s 
operations and that of other Operators at different times.

The audit was required to look at revenues reported for the period 
January 1, 2008 to June 30, 2011. The audit, which verified the accuracy
 of revenue reporting, was performed by Messrs Boateng, Offei & Co 
on behalf of the NCA from February 2013 and completed in October 2013. 
It is very important to point out that:

The outcome of the audit found no evidence of under declaration of 
revenue and the auditors did not reach any such conclusions in their 
final report on the activities of Vodafone Ghana.

Vodafone’s operations were never found to have caused any tax revenue
 losses to government. Subsequent to the audit, the NCA imposed two 
fines on Vodafone as follows: 1% of regulatory fee liability – 
GHC¢1,632,982.13.

Regulatory penalty for providing handling fees to International 
Carriers for terminating International Incoming Traffic – 
GHC¢18,824,000. The regulatory fee liability based on the Auditor’s 
report was partly as a result of the non-payment of regulatory fees by 
Ghana Telecom in 2008 before Vodafone acquired 70% stake in the company,
 and partly due to a difference in interpretation as to whether sale of 
equipment and handsets are regulated services under the allocated 
telecommunications licence.

The regulatory penalty on International Incoming Traffic was due to 
lack of clarity on the treatment of any handling fees given to 
International Carriers for terminating ITT. The price per minute of ITT 
was regulated at 0.19 USD cents and Vodafone was fully complying by 
charging and reporting the regulated price. Vodafone was also computing 
and paying all Government taxes and levies on the stipulated price as 
confirmed by the Auditor’s report.

The fact that Vodafone was providing handling fees to International 
Carriers for securing its traffic from going via SIMbox fraudsters was 
perceived by the NCA, based on an ambiguous regulatory clause, as a 
regulatory breach (not a revenue assurance breach) and that accounted 
for the penalty.

Vodafone Group alone has invested in excess of USD$1 billion in 
Vodafone Ghana since acquiring a 70% stake in Ghana Telecom in 2009. 
Vodafone’s operations in Ghana have a direct impact on the social and 
economic development and have transformed the telecommunications 
industry through the provision of value added, innovative products and 
services in both the Consumer and Enterprise spaces. The Vodafone Ghana 
Foundation continues to support the use of technology in a way that 
delivers social and economic dividends.

In the name of fairness and transparency, Vodafone reserves the right
 to exercise all available options, including legal, against any 
individual or group, who impugns on the hard won image and reputation of
 the company by peddling falsehoods about this issue.

Source: itnewsafrica.com

Vodafone denies undercutting international call rates

A leaked report, revealed by Ghanaweb.com, from the Revenue Assurance Audit commissioned by the National Communications Authority (NCA)...