Telephone subscribers in Nigeria will pay more for data and airtime as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) approved a 50% tariff increase for telecom operators on Monday.
In a statement, Reuben Muoka, a spokesman for the regulator, said the adjustment, while less than the “over 100% requested by some operators, reflects ongoing industry reforms aimed at promoting sustainability.”
The NCC justified the increase under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, which empowers it to regulate and approve telecom tariffs.
“These adjustments remain within the tariff bands outlined in the 2013 NCC Cost Study,” the statement noted. “Requests will be reviewed case by case, adhering to the NCC Guidance on Tariff Simplification, 2024.”
The regulator emphasised that tariff rates had been static since 2013, despite rising operational costs for operators. The adjustment seeks to balance operational expenses with affordability while ensuring continued service quality and infrastructure investments.
NCC acknowledged the financial strain on Nigerian households and businesses, mandating operators to implement the changes transparently and educate consumers on the new rates.
As of December 2023, Nigeria has over 224 million telecom subscribers. MTN leads with over 87 million users, holding 38.79% of the market, followed by Globacom and Airtel with 61 million each, and 9mobile with 13.9 million.
