FEAR OF PUBLIC OUTCRY, JIM OVIA RETURNS N3B WORTH SPECTRUM ISSUED BY JONATHAN

Because of the continuous public outcry that trailed the issuance of  telecom frequency spectrum to Mr Jim Ovia's Cyberspace by former President Goodluck Jonathan, indications are rife that the Chairman of Visafone, might have returned the frequency spectrum to the Federal Government. Cyberspace is Ovia’s fully owned Internet Service Provider business based in Lagos.

Report has it that he took the decision after the controversy that trailed ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s issuance of the spectrum to him and the Chairman of Globacom, Mike Adenuga Jnr. “Barring any change, Ovia is to be refunded the spectrum fee earlier paid short of N30m estimated to be usage surcharge for the period that Cyberspace occupied the frequency band,” disclosed a source.

His request to return the 900MHz key spectrum for mobile communication services had been granted by the Nigerian Communications Commission.

He said, “The government awarded him the spectrum but he rejected it because it fell short of his expectations.”

Claims however has it that Jim Ovia never accepted the spectrum “What he (Ovia) was offered will not enable him to provide broadband, IMTS and LTE services; so, he politely rejected it.”

 However, Technology Times reported that in quick response to the controversy that had trailed the spectrum sale without a competitive bid, Ovia offered to return the 900MHz spectrum to the nation’s spectrum administrators, and get a refund of an estimated N3bn paid for the resource.”

Dr Mike Adenuga, the owner of Globacom, who was issued the 700MHz spectrum, remains a beneficiary of the former president’s generosity as he retains the licence for the next two years on an exclusive trial basis.