Why Your Data, Call & SMS Costs May Soon Increase 

Mobile network operators (MNOs) have called for a review of the current price regime for calls, short message service, SMS, and data.

They made this call under the aegis of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON). The service providers noted that the current pricing is no longer sustainable.

ALTON Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo said, “What we are charging today is certainly not sustainable. It is only a matter of time; either it will impact the scale of service or the industry’s performance and service availability. But certainly, it is not sustainable…what we have currently. We are living on borrowed time.” 

Adebayo made this statement during Lagos’s Nigerian Telecommunications Indigenous Content Expo (NTICE 2023).

Data, Call & SMS Costs to increase

Speaking further, Adebayo said, “We are looking at all the elements, and decisions will be made soon. But the fact remains that current rates in the sector are not sustainable in the current dispensation.”

He also added that the current pricing regime in the industry is not sustainable. He said, “We are selling below cost, Too cheap. It is not easy to go about that, but market forces should be allowed to determine prices.” 

NCC allays fears of Nigerians

The Nigeria Communications Commission has in a similar report, told Nigerians that there will be no increase in rate anytime soon.

The commission noted that some processes need to be followed if there will be a hike in price. They also noted that the removal of subsidies is one of the reasons why they have not yet implemented any hike.

What you need to know

Recall that telecom companies had earlier proposed adjusting the floor price for calls, suggesting a hike from N6.4 to N8.95 and an increase in the SMS price cap from N4 to N5.61.