By Favour Unukaso
TELECOMMUNICATIONS operators may have actually begun the implementation of the Federal Government approved 50 per cent tariff hike as subscribers, especially on MTN network, woke up Tuesday to see that the price of its data subscriptions has gone up.
This tariff hike came a bit earlier, as the telecoms operators had planned that the implementation will take effect from March after they must have secured the final nod from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) final nod.
According to information, which emanated from MTN, the revised data prices showed that MTN’s 1.8GB monthly plan now goes for N1, 500, against the previous 1.5GB plan priced at 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.
While MTN has implemented, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile are yet to update their data prices as of the time of filing this report. Telecoms operators are now charging N6.00 for text messages, instead of the previous N4.00.
The increment in the price of text messages reflects the 50 per cent approved by the NCC.
According to telecom industry sources, the 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.
Two weeks ago at a telecoms forum, the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) Gbenga Adebayo, had disclosed that all the operators had sent their new tariff plans to the NCC and were awaiting approval.
Adebayo, ALTON boss
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.