New reports reveal that telecom companies may be granted approval to increase call and data tariffs before the end of the first quarter of 2025 as said by a top official of one of the four big telecom companies who pleaded anonymity while speaking in Lagos state.
The official said that the telecom operators are waiting for the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) approval to increase calls, SMS, and internet bundle rates.
The approval will mark the end of over a decade of lobbying by telecom giants like MTN Nigeria, Airtel, and 9Mobile, which have consistently called for price adjustments to reflect economic realities.
The source added that telecom tariffs could rise by up to 40%, which means making a one-minute call may cost N15.40, up from N11, and SMS charges will rise from N4 to N5.60. For data plans, the price of a 1GB bundle will increase from N1,000 to at least N1,400.
It is worthy to note that telecom operators have not been allowed to raise prices in the last 11 years despite soaring operational costs driven by inflation.
