MTN Nigeria has revised its data subscription prices as telecommunications operators in the country implement the 50% price hike recently approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
According to updated MTN data prices, the 1.8GB monthly plan now costs ₦1,500, replacing the previous 1.5GB plan priced at ₦1,000. Similarly, the 20GB plan has increased to ₦7,500 from ₦5,500, while the 15GB plan now costs ₦6,500, up from ₦4,500.
Text Message Rates Adjusted
Text message charges across all networks have risen to ₦6.00 from the previous ₦4.00, reflecting the NCC’s 50% price increase approval.
While Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile have yet to revise their data prices at the time of this report, all telecom operators are currently working on updating their data and voice plans.
Telecom industry sources indicate that the final approval for the new tariff plans was granted on Monday. At a recent forum, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), stated that all operators had submitted their revised tariffs to the NCC and were awaiting approval.
Backstory
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) announced on January 20 that it had approved a 50% tariff adjustment for telecom operators, citing increased operational costs and the need to ensure the sustainability of the industry.
In a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, the NCC emphasized that the decision aligns with its regulatory authority under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
However, the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) has expressed strong opposition to the tariff hike, threatening to challenge the decision in court. According to NATCOMS, the adjustment was made without sufficient consultation with key stakeholders, including subscribers.
Meanwhile, the Presidency has defended the approval, stating that it was necessary to maintain the viability of the telecom industry. It clarified, however, that the approval does not mandate telecom operators to immediately implement a 50% increase in their tariffs.
“It is important to highlight that this approval does not mean automatic increases in tariffs. Operators are free to maintain their current rates if they find them sustainable,” the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre, stated in a recent statement.
The NCC described the tariff adjustment as a crucial step to address key challenges within the telecommunications sector. It highlighted that the Nigerian telecom industry has operated under static pricing for over a decade, with tariffs remaining unchanged since 2013, despite substantial increases in operational costs.