Tariff review: ALTON threatens to shut down services across Nigeria
By Ralph Tathagata
The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has threatened to shut down their services in some parts of the country next year if their demand for tariff review is not considered by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Revealing this in a statement, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of ALTON, said that the survival of the telecom sector demands immediate and bold reform for its sustainability. He added that tariffs must be reviewed to reflect the economic realities of delivering telecom services at a minimum for industry sustainability.
He said, “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.”
The ALTON Chairman while stressing that, without the tariff review operators cannot continue to guarantee service availability, noted that, though the challenges being faced by the telcos are not new, they have become more acute and more threatening with this passing year.
He specifically mentioned 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.
Adebayo added 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 modernize telecom networks are no longer available and without intervention, “the future of this sector is at grave risk.”
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