Telcos 40% tariff hike: Nigerians to pay more on calls, text messages, data
Indications have emerged that Nigerians may have to pay more as Telecommunication companies have begun proposition for a 40 per cent increment on calls, text messages and data.
According to them, this is coming on the heels of current economic challenges which made the companies to pay extra cost in running business in the country.
Some of the factors mentioned as responsible were the war that is currently happening in Ukraine, hike in excise duty, and energy crisis.
Their proposal will make the price floor of calls to increase from N6.4 to N8.95 while the price cap of SMS will increase from N4 to N5.61.
The proposal for the increment was revealed in a letter titled, ‘Impact of the Economic and Security Issues on the Telecommunications Sector.”
The letter was written by the telecommunications companies under the aegis of the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria to the NCC.
In the letter, the telecom companies said there had been a 40 per cent increase in the cost of doing business in the nation.
According to them, the telecommunication industry has been financially impacted following the nation’s economic recession in 2020 and the effect of the ongoing Ukraine/Russia crisis.
They said this had resulted in an increase in energy costs, increasing their operating expenses by 35 per cent.
They added that the introduction of the recent excise duty of five per cent on telecom services had further increased the burden of multiple taxes and levies on the industry.
The letter read in part, “As the Commission may be aware, the power sector under the supervision of its Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission of the power sector in November 2020 undertook a review of electricity tariffs to cater for the economic headwinds reported above.
“In view of the foregoing, ALTON considers it expedient for the telecommunications sector to undergo periodic cost adjustments through the commission’s intervention in order to minimise the impact of the challenging economic issues faced by our members. Details are hereunder.
“Upward review of the price determination for voice and data and SMS. Given the state of the economy and the circa 40 per cent increase in the cost of doing business, we wish to request for an interim administrative review of the mobile (voice) termination rate for voice, administrative data floor price, and cost of SMS as reflected in extant instruments.
“With respect to voice an SMS cost, ALTON respectfully requests the commission to consider a mark-up approach to address the upward price adjustment desirable for the industry. We have enclosed herein and marked as ‘Annexure 1’our proposal in that regard.
“For data services, we wish to request that the commission implement the recommendations in the August 2020 KPMG report on the determination of cost-based pricing for wholesale and retail broadband service in Nigeria. Excerpts from the report, are attached and marked ‘Annexure 2’ to provide a further illustration.
“In implementing the said recommendations, however, we recommend that the 40 per cent increase in the cost of doing business be factored in to arrive at a cost price per GB in view of the current economic situation .”
The umbrella body for telecom companies added that to further help telcos during this economic crisis, the Commission should explore and provide other means of penalising operators rather than punitive monetary sanctions, extend the payment timeline of relevant regulatory levies and fees, prevail on the Federal Government to sign the executive order declaring telecoms infrastructure as a critical national infrastructure to mitigate cost spent replacing damaged and stolen infrastructures, among other things.
The body requested an upward adjustment of the MTR by 40 per cent, “For large operators, new interim MTR of N5.46 from N3.90 reflecting 40 per cent increase in the cost of business.
“For small operators, new interim MTR of N6.58 from N4.70 reflecting 40 per cent increase in the cost of business.”
Effort made to get reaction from the Director Public Affairs, NCC Dr. Adinde ikechuckwu proved abortive. There was no respond to calls and text messages.
