Nigeria to pay more for calls, data

After years of appeals and lobbying by major telecom providers, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has authorised a 40 percent increase in telecom tariffs.

Starting January 2025, Nigerians will face higher costs for calls, SMS, and internet bundles across all mobile networks.

According to TechCabal, the new rates will see the cost of a phone call increase from ?11 to ?15.40 per minute, while SMS charges will rise from ?4 to ?5.60.

The report quotes an NCC official who confirmed that further details of the tariff adjustments would be shared in an official announcement.

“This announcement will benefit the subscribers and operators because we have taken into account the proposals from the industry and the public,” an NCC spokesperson told TechCabal.

Earlier this year, the push by Mobile Network Operators for an increase in network tariff sparked series of debates.

Initially, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, rejected the call, urging operators to adopt innovative strategies.

However, the demand grew, with industry players warning of potential collapse due to mounting losses.

Recently, Tijani hinted at exploring measures to sustain the sector in 2025, signalling a possible approval for marginal tariff increases.

“Beyond just the conversation, which is out there, which is about increasing the tariff, Yes, we think there may be a need for the hike, but lots more needs to be done as a country to ensure that the sector is competitive and beyond just supporting them to be competitive, the government must support be investing in digital infrastructure as well,” the minister stated.

The tariff hike addresses rising operational costs for telecom operators, including energy expenses, infrastructure maintenance, and regulatory compliance, compounded by the naira’s depreciation, which inflates import costs. — Business Insider Africa.