Following the approval of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) giving green light to telecommunications operators to implement an increase in tariff plan, the key players in the industry have indicated readiness to begin implementing the hike.
Earlier this week, MTN had begun implementing an increase in the tariff plans, a move which was disapproved by the House of Representatives, arguing that Nigerians cannot afford higher telecom costs amid rising inflation and the removal of fuel subsidies.
The tariff hike scheduled to begin on Monday has seen MTN start implementing, with other key players, Glo, Airtel, and 9mobile, yet to release their new pricing structure.
Though MTN says the price increase is yet to be implemented for all categories as the increase is a gradual process.
The tariff adjustment primarily affects MTN data plans. For example, the 1.5GB monthly plan, previously priced at ₦1,000, has now been replaced with a 1.8GB plan costing ₦1,500.
Similarly, the 15GB plan has increased from ₦4,500 to ₦6,500, while the 20GB plan now costs ₦7,500, up from ₦5,500. Larger data bundles have seen even steeper hikes, with the 1.5 terabyte 90-day plan increasing from ₦150,000 to ₦240,000, and the 600GB 90-day plan rising from ₦75,000 to ₦120,000.
The increment was received with complaints from many Nigerians who saw the increase in data plans as adding more hardship to them.
