Telecommunication companies in Nigeria are lobbying their regulator for permission to double price tariffs to weather harsh economic conditions and inflation running near a three-decade high.

“We’ve put forward requests of approximately a 100% increase” to the regulator, Karl Toriola, chief executive officer of MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, told Lagos-based Arise TV.

“There’s no way that the industry could continue to sustain itself and provide the required quality of service under the present structure,” he said.

The industry has been stepping up efforts for permission to relax pricing rules that have been in place for 11 years, amid surging annual inflation that touched 34.6% in November, and the steep depreciation of the naira against the dollar.

If the pricing issue is resolved, Toriola is optimistic 2025 will be a good year for operators.

The unit of MTN Group Ltd. plans to grow voice and data revenue this year by increasing coverage of rural areas as well as 5G broadband penetration, he said.

Telecommunications operators in Nigeria have threatened to shut down their services in some parts of the country this year if their demand for tariff review is not considered by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The operators under the aegis of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) said this in a statement signed by Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, its chairman.

According to Adebayo, the survival of the telecom sector demands immediate and bold reform for its sustainability, adding that tariffs must be reviewed to reflect the economic realities of delivering telecom services at a minimum for industry sustainability.

“If nothing is done, we might begin to see in the new year grim consequences unfolding, such as Service Shedding; operators may not be able to provide services in some areas and at some times of the day leaving millions disconnected, there will be significant economic Fallout, because businesses will suffer from a lack of connectivity, stalling growth and innovation.

“There will also be National Economic Disruption where Key sectors like security, commerce, healthcare, and education which rely heavily on telecom infrastructure, will face serious disruptions,” Adebayo said.

Telecom industry is under heavy burden. Emphasising that without the tariff review, operators cannot continue to guarantee service availability, the ALTON Chairman said though the challenges being faced by the telcos are not new, they have become more acute and more threatening with this passing year.

He said that rising operational costs, skyrocketing energy costs, the relentless pressure of inflation, and volatile exchange rates, amongst others, have all placed an unsustainable burden on network operators. He said that despite these mounting pressures, tariffs have remained stagnant, leaving operators trapped in a financial quagmire.

According to him, the resources needed to maintain, expand, and modernise telecom networks are no longer available and without intervention, “the future of this sector is at grave risk.”

The ALTON chairman noted that stakeholders have done their best over the years to sustain the sector by upholding the values and importance of telecommunications in society.

“However, let me be clear: our work is far from over. It is not enough to have kept the sector afloat; we must now focus on securing its future. The sustainability challenges we face today are not just a passing storm—they are a clarion call for decisive action to ensure that this industry thrives for generations to come. Despite the dire warnings, we still believe that a better 2025 is possible—but only if we act now. Let this be the moment when we come together, acknowledge the urgency of the situation, and commit to saving this sector,” he said.

Association of Telephone Cable TV and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS) has said that operators would not review tariff without consulting stakeholders.

ATCIS was reacting to fears to rumours that telecom operators were planning tariff increment early this year.

Recall the operators had threatened service disruption without an increment in tariff even as the operators await regulatory nod to effect an increase in tariff.

But Prince Sina Bilesanmi, national president, TCIS-Nigeria, said the association confirmed from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) that there has not been an increment.

“ATCIS had written a letter to the NCC dated December 24th, 2024 requesting the Commission to clarify the new tariff increment proposed to be announced on December 13, 2024 as reported by the national daily and the online platforms, which they said would take off in January 2025.

“Firstly, there are procedures for tariff review like; cost study, consultation, enlightenment, engagement of Stakeholders like ATCIS being telecom subscriber advocacy body and all these requirements are not yet met by telcos,” he said.

He urged telecom subscribers not to panic, saying the NCC is the authorised body to announce tariff increment.

“The commission would have made an official statement regarding tariff increase. Therefore, people should disregard whoever said he is the spokesperson of NCC.

“Telecom subscriber members of the public should watch out for some unscrupulous reporters that are being used to destabilise the telecommunication industry. There’s no new tariff, and if such will happen every stakeholder would be carried along,” he said.

He assured that the association would not rest on its oar to ensure sanctity of information, saying their mission is to promote mutual co-existence, fair play and defend the rights of telecom subscribers.