Nigerians to pay more to browse internet, as MTN, airtel increase data price

Nigerian telecommunication companies have announced an increase in prices for their internet data services by about 10 percent.

The increase was announced by MTN(@MTN180) and Airtel (@AirtelNigeria) on their verified Twitter pages on Saturday evening.

The new 10% increase is still less than the initial 40% increase in call, SMS, and data rates that telecom businesses operating under the auspices of the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria had recommended.

The telecom companies explained in a letter to the Nigerian Communications Commission that the cost of doing business in the country had increased by 40%, necessitating the proposed rise in services.

We seek to request an interim administrative review of the mobile (voice) termination rate for voice, given the state of the economy and the almost 40% increase in the cost of conducting business, according to the letter. administrative data floor price, and cost of SMS as reflected in extant instruments.”

The NCC retorted that specific procedures had to be followed before an increase could be put into effect.

Isa Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, stated during the first meeting of the Presidential Committee on Excise Duty for the Digital Economy Sector in Abuja that there had been more than 15 attempts to raise the cost of telecommunication services in the previous three years, which he had fought against. Operating costs had increased as a result of inflation, rising diesel prices, and other factors.

The minister also noted, that “In spite of the contributions and achievements of the sector, we have been recording some challenges coming up from time to time that if care is not taken these challenges could be a barrier to the development of this sector in the next few years to come. One of them is the issue of excessive taxation and sometimes, multiple taxations in the sector.”