Telecom tariffs expected to rise up to 40% by January 2025 By Ralph Tathagata
By Ralph Tathagata
Telecom tariffs are expected to rise up to 40% by January 2025 as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved a long-awaited hike. The significant increase comes on the heels of over a decade of lobbying by major telecom operators like MTN Nigeria, Airtel, and 9Mobile.
Under the new rates for calls, SMS, and internet bundles, which will take effect next month, call charges will increase from ₦11 to ₦15.40 per minute, SMS costs will rise from ₦4 to ₦5.60, and a 1GB data bundle will cost at least ₦1,400, up from ₦1,000.
It would be recalled that in October 2024, the NCC rejected Starlink’s application to double subscription fees to ₦75,000. While the Commission aims to balance the financial burden on subscribers, it also recognises that the industry’s operational challenges could affect service quality and investment.
The NCC, however, promised that further details of the tariff adjustments would be shared in an official announcement. The Commission added that the announcement will benefit the subscribers and operators because it has taken into account the proposals from the industry and the public.
In a recent interview on Arise TV, Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, acknowledged the need for price adjustments, stating, “We think there may be a need for that.”
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