The Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC, has approved the long-awaited telecom tariff hike, ending over a decade of lobbying by major operators. The new rate for calls, sms, and internet bundles will take effect from January 2025, with tariffs expected to rise by up to 40%.
Under the revised structure, call charges are expected to increase from N11 to N15.40 per minute, sms cost will rise from N4 to 5.60, and a 1GB data bundle will cost at least N1400 up from N1000.
The NCC promises more details in an upcoming official announcement, emphasizing that the adjustments balance industry proposals with public interest.
“This will benefit both subscribers and operators as we have considered feedback from stakeholders,” an NCC spokesperson said.
The tariff increase comes amid rising food inflation of 39.93% and fears of reduced internet usage in a country prioritizing digital inclusion.
However, the financial strain on telecom operators has been severe, with MTN Nigeria reporting an N514.9 billion loss in the first nine months of 2024, following an N137 loss in 2023. Airtel Africa faced $89 million in losses for FY 2024 largely due to challenges in Nigeria.
