Nigerian authorities agreed to delay today’s deadline (16 November) set for MTN to pay its $5.2 billion fine in the country until talks between the two parties have concluded.

MTN is facing the fine after failing to cut off 5.1 million unregistered SIM cards from its network, with regulator Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) stepping up efforts to verify the identity of subscribers amid criminal activity concerns.

The operator, Africa’s largest mobile phone group, has been in discussions with NCC to reduce the fine since it was imposed, and last week appointed company veteran Phutuma Nhkelo as temporary CEO following the resignation of Sifiso Dabengwa, in the wake of the controversy.

In a statement released earlier today, MTN said that although the NCC “set a deadline for the payment of the fine by 16 November, shareholders are advised that the Nigerian authorities have, without prejudice, agreed that the imposed fine will not be payable until the negotiations have been concluded”.

The company added that Nhkelo has now “personally met with Nigerian authorities to continue the ongoing discussions with them regarding the fine”.

Earlier, MTN also reportedly denied a report suggesting the company had asked to pay the fine in staggered payments. “We have arrived at no agreement nor requested, as has been alleged in some media reports, such staggered payments with the authorities in Nigeria,” said spokesman Chris Maroleng, according to Bloomberg.

NCC imposed a deadline on the country’s four operators to disconnect unregistered subscribers earlier this year, threatening a fine of $1000 per SIM card, with MTN the only company not to comply.

Despite the ongoing issue, Nigeria recently approved the renewal and extension of MTN’s operating licence in the country for another five years, through to 2021.