The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has
approved a long-awaited telecom tariff hike, ending over a decade of lobbying
by major operators like MTN Nigeria, Airtel, and 9Mobile. New rates for calls,
SMS, and internet bundles will take effect in January 2025, with tariffs
expected to rise by up to 40%.
Under the revised structure, call charges will
increase from ?11 to ?15.40 per minute, SMS costs will rise from ?4 to ?5.60,
and a 1GB data bundle will cost at least ?1,400, up from ?1,000. The NCC
promises more details in an upcoming official announcement, emphasizing that
the adjustments balance industry proposals with public interests.
“This will benefit both subscribers and operators as
we’ve considered feedback from all stakeholders,” an NCC spokesperson said.
Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital
Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, acknowledged the need for the adjustment, citing
economic pressures during a recent interview on Arise TV. Meanwhile, the NCC
remains cautious about overburdening subscribers, previously rejecting a
proposed price hike from Starlink in October 2024.
The tariff increase comes amid rising food inflation
of 39.93% and fears of reduced internet usage in a country prioritizing digital
inclusion. However, the financial strain on telecom operators has been severe,
with MTN Nigeria reporting a ?514.9 billion loss in the first nine months of
2024, following a ?137 billion loss in 2023. Airtel Africa faced $89 million in
losses for FY 2024, largely due to challenges in Nigeria.
Gbenga Adebayo, President of the Association of
Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria
(ALTON), supports the move, arguing that
cost-reflective tariffs will incentivize investment and improve service quality
in the long term
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