NCC Reportedly Okays Tariff Hike for Telcos

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has finally introduced new tariff plans for the industry, after many months of agitations by telecommunications services providers in the country.

According to  Newtelegraph findings, the approval by the regulator was also followed by new pricing rules, according to a document, “Guidance On The Simplification of Tariffs In The Nigerian Communications Sector” signed by Dr Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman/CEO.

According to the Commission, “the Guidance shall take effect on July 29, 2024, and will remain valid and binding on licensees until further reviewed by the Commission.”

The document aims to simplify the pricing of a wide range of services across the Nigerian telecoms industry.

The rules guide what service providers can charge to their subscribers for either a bundle or unit of a product/service across the Nigerian telecoms market that accounts for 219,304,281 phone lines; 164,368,292 internet subscriptions and 94,364,751 broadband connections as of Q1 2024.

It also provides stricter pricing rules for tariff plans, add-ons, bundles, bonuses, promotions, top-ups, and other elements that provide subscribers access to voice, data, SMS and other services delivered by telcos in Nigeria.

Under the rules, which stipulate a tariff plan as “a structured pricing scheme that outlines the charges and conditions under which telecommunications services are provided to subscribers,” NCC orders that “every subscriber must be on a tariff plan and no subscriber can be on more than one tariff plan at a time.”