The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved a telecom tariff hike set to take effect in January 2025, with increases of up to 40%. The price for calls, SMS, and data bundles will rise, addressing operational costs that telecom companies like MTN and Airtel face due to inflation.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved an increase in telecom tariffs, set to take effect in January 2025, following years of requests from major telecom companies like MTN Nigeria, Airtel, and 9Mobile. These companies have been calling for higher prices to reflect the rising operational costs, particularly with the current inflationary pressures.
The proposed hikes will affect the cost of calls, SMS, and data plans. For example, the cost of a phone call will rise from ₦11 to ₦15.40 per minute, while 1GB of data will increase from ₦1,000 to ₦1,400. This marks the first tariff adjustment in over 11 years. Despite concerns about the impact of the price increases on consumer spending, especially as inflation continues to rise, industry experts argue that the price adjustments are necessary for the long-term sustainability of the telecom sector.
The NCC has stated that the changes are aimed at addressing the financial challenges faced by telecom operators while ensuring that service quality improves in the future. Telecom companies have experienced significant financial losses in recent years, and the tariff hikes are seen as a way to stimulate investment in the industry.
![Today's Naira Rate [25-12-2024]: Naira’s Depreciation Continues as Parallel Market Hits N1,650/$](/data/attachments/211/211746-fc88bc2cf08b62eccef5f97dcdd14191.jpg?hash=hFfFcRmkeL)
