Almost 12 years after it last effected a price hike, Nigeria’s telecoms sector, yesterday, began the implementation of a new tariff.
This time, the Federal Government approved a 50 per cent hike.
Subscribers, especially on the MTN network, woke up Tuesday to see that the prices of its data subscriptions and SMS have gone up.
The tariff hike came a bit earlier, as the telecoms operators had planned to effect the change from March after they had secured the final nod from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
According to information from MTN, the revised data prices showed that MTN’s 1.8GB monthly plan now goes for N1,500, against the previous N1,000.
The 20GB plan has been adjusted to N7,500, up from N5,500, while the 15GB plan now costs N6,500, a rise from N4,500.
There is also the 15GB/week, which moved from N2000 to N6000, a 200 per cent hike.
Larger data bundles have seen even steeper increases. The 1.5 terabyte 90-day plan has risen from N150,000 to N240,000, and the 600GB 90-day plan is now priced at N120,000, up from N75,000, according to the updated list.
While MTN has implemented the increase, Airtel, Globacom and 9mobile are yet to update their data prices as of press time.
Telecoms operators are now charging N6 for text messages, instead of the previous N4. The increment in the price of text messages reflected the 50 per cent approved by the NCC.
A senior telecoms executive, who spoke anonymously, confirmed that operators have started the implementation, stressing that telcos got the final approval for their new tariff plans on Monday and all the operators are in the process of adjusting their data and voice plans.
According to him, while MTN, as the first mover, has taken the shot, other players will unveil theirs before closing anytime soon.
Speaking at a forum two weeks ago, the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, disclosed that all the operators had sent their new tariff plans to the NCC and were awaiting approval.
Recall that the NCC had on January 20 announced that it had approved a 50 per cent tariff adjustment for telecoms operators, citing rising operational costs and the need to sustain the industry.
The Commission in a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, said the decision underlines the Commission’s regulatory role under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act (2003).
