Telcos Finally Begin 50% Hike in Data, Call Prices

Subscribers of MTN Nigeria and Swift are some who have seen increments across their data plans with Airtel, Globacom and others preparing to roll out their new rates.

MTN Nigeria has revised prices, even going beyond the approved 50 per cent in some of its increment.

For internet data, MTN’s 1.8GB monthly plan is now 50 per cent higher than the previous rate at N1,500. Before now, the package was 1.5GB priced at N1,000.

In additional, the company has raised its 15GB plan to N6,500 from N4,500, while its 20GB plan has been adjusted to N7,500, up from N5,500.

Customers who use larger bundles will pay more comparatively as the 365-day 1.5TB plan jumped by 60 per cent from N150,000 to N240,000, and the 600GB 90-day plan also increased by 60 per cent from N75,000 to N120,000.

SWIFT Networks has also increased internet prices by 50 per cent across board.

Business Post gathered that other telcos will roll out the increment from this week. An insider told this newspaper that the others are waiting to see the reaction from other services before implementing.

Recall that the NCC announced its approval for a 50 per cent tariff increase for telecoms operators in the country, the first of such since 2013 on January 20. This followed a lengthy battle that involved the telcos request a 100 per cent increment.

The regulator said the price adjustment though lower than the “over 100 per cent requested by some network operators, was arrived at taking into account ongoing industry reforms that will positively influence sustainability”.

The regulator said the increase was pursuant to its power under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 (NCA) to regulate and approve tariff rates and charges by telecommunications operators.