Phase3 Denies Owing FG N27.2bn Over Fibre Optic Agreement

FUNSHO AROGUNDADE

Phase3 Telecom, Nigeria’s independent fibre optic infrastructure and telecommunications services provider, has firmly refuted allegations that the company and Alheri Engineering Limited, a Dangote Group Subsidiary, owe Federal Government of Nigeria the sum of $75.5million (about N27.18billion at N360 to $1) over fibre optic agreement with Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). 

In a statement released by the company Wednesday, Phase3 describes the claim by a section of the news media as “scurrilous and unmerited”.

The telco service provider assures its clients as well as members of the general public that those accusations were “unmerited insinuations that are far from true but intended to obscure what the real issues are…and should be promptly disregarded”.

The company stated that despite deployment challenges which include multi-year delays in linesmen allocation by TCN and devaluation/depreciation of the national currency, Phase3 has ensured that all undisputed payments such as total concession fee payment, royalties, and rental payment for equipment space to TCN were up to date.

“That although a dilapidated fiber optic network was inherited from TCN, Phase3 has however, deployed a total of 2000km and installed state-of-art transmission equipment along with the rehabilitation of the existing fiber which has seen us concessionaires expend more than $100 million as capital and operating expenditure on the project,” the company stated.

Phase3 stressed that the cause for unfounded allegations by TCN is due to its resistance of the harmonization of right of way charges for deployment of fiber optic cables as agreed and communicated by the National Economic Council towards affordable broadband services in the country.

A development that necessitates a review of the Right of Way (Row) charges for deployment of fiber optics on power lines (concession fees) to be at par with other RoW charges available in the telecom industry.

The statement affirmed that Phase3 has always honoured the terms of the concession agreement with TCN in line with kilometer of fiber available as well as market realities and most imperatively the contract review process towards ensuring the success of the project for the overall benefit of the country under the supervision of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the regulatory agency that is saddled with the responsibility of the review process.

“We strongly maintaining that Phase3 has never and will never involve itself in such revolting act as defrauding TCN; as its unwavering commitment has always been to proffer affordable and robust service solutions that will see customers and other businesses rapidly leverage the opportunities of reliable broadband internet across Nigeria,” the company stated.