Telecommunications companies in the country are exploring the possibility of revising the existing national tariff structures to implement a regional tariff system that considers the unique challenges faced in each state.
This was disclosed during the 7th edition of Lagos’s Policy Implementation Assisted Forum (PIAFo). The operators said that a regional tariff system would provide a means to reward states with favourable business environments, while those that hinder operations would incur higher service costs.
Gbenga Adebayo, the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), noted that some states pose significant operational challenges, which should be reflected in the operational costs.
Echoing Adebayo’s sentiments, Tony Emoekpere, President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), remarked that the existing national tariff is inequitable, as various regions incur different operational expenses.
This consideration arises from the challenges telecom operators face in certain states, including excessive taxation and assaults on their infrastructure. Emoekpere emphasised that states facilitating easier operations for telecom companies should be rewarded, while those complicating matters should bear higher tariffs.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recently sanctioned a 50% increase in tariffs for telecom operators after prolonged calls regarding the escalating operational expenses in the nation.
Currently, under NCC regulations, telecom companies follow a national tariff system, meaning subscribers pay uniform rates regardless of their geographical location within the country.
