MTN Nigeria has raised its data subscription prices as telecommunications operators across the country begin implementing the 50% price increase recently approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The updated MTN data prices, as seen by Nairametrics, reveal that the 1.8GB monthly plan now costs N1,500, replacing the previous 1.5GB plan priced at N1,000.
The 20GB plan has been adjusted to N7,500 from N5,500, while the 15GB plan now costs N6,500, up from N4,500. Additionally, text message charges have increased to N6.00, a rise from the previous N4.00.
While Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile have not updated their data prices at the time of this report, Nairametrics confirms that all networks are now charging N6.00 for text messages, reflecting the 50% price increase approved by the NCC.
- The rise in text message costs mirrors the NCC’s approved 50% tariff increase.
- Telecom industry insiders note that the telcos received final approval for their new tariff structures on Monday, with all operators in the process of revising their data and voice plans.
Two weeks ago, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), mentioned that all operators had submitted their new tariff plans to the NCC, awaiting approval.
Backstory
On January 20, the NCC announced the approval of a 50% tariff increase for telecom operators, citing rising operational expenses and the need to maintain industry sustainability. The Commission, through its Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, explained that this decision falls under the regulatory role defined in Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
However, the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) has vowed to challenge the tariff hike in court, arguing that the decision was made without sufficient consultation with key stakeholders, including consumers.
Meanwhile, the Presidency has supported the 50% tariff hike approval, emphasizing its necessity to keep the telecom industry viable. In a recent statement, the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre clarified that this approval does not mean telecom operators must immediately raise their tariffs by 50%.
“The approval does not automatically lead to tariff hikes; operators are free to maintain their current rates if they find them sustainable,” the Centre stated. While the decision is seen as a step toward addressing the challenges in Nigeria’s telecom sector, it also highlighted that prices have remained unchanged since 2013, despite rising operational costs.
