Telecommunications operators have assured Nigerians that there are currently no plans to increase call, data or other telecom service tariffs, clarifying that the ongoing review by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is focused solely on pricing arrangements between network operators.
Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, gave the clarification during an interview on Arise Television, dismissing concerns that the regulator was preparing another round of tariff increases for consumers.
His comments come amid reports suggesting that the NCC was engaging consultants and industry stakeholders on a possible review of telecom tariffs following the 50 per cent increase approved in 2025.
However, Adebayo said the current exercise has nothing to do with charges paid by subscribers, stressing that discussions are centred on wholesale pricing mechanisms that govern transactions among operators.
“There are no conversations around tariff review at this time, and there are no discussions around upward review of tariffs for our consumers,” Adebayo stated.
According to him, the NCC is undertaking a routine regulatory process designed to determine fair charges between telecommunications companies whenever calls originate from one network and terminate on another.
“What the regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has done is to commence what we call the custody that determines the wholesale rate between operators, meaning that if I originate a call from my network and terminate on another network,” he said.
He explained that the review seeks to establish efficient pricing structures that will promote industry sustainability while ensuring fair compensation among operators.
“The exercise is to speak to how efficient it is to run a network, what’s the fair price between one operator and the other to ensure that you have a healthy industry?” he added.
Adebayo further reassured consumers that the exercise is a standard regulatory practice carried out periodically by telecommunications regulators around the world.
“I must assure Nigerians that what is going on is a regular process where a regulator determines what is a fair price for operators to charge among themselves for calls they carry and terminate on each other’s network,” he said.
He noted that the review extends beyond local interconnection charges to include international calls originating outside Nigeria and terminating on domestic networks.
According to him, the objective is to ensure that charges associated with such services reflect prevailing market realities and support the long-term viability of the telecommunications sector.
Industry stakeholders have repeatedly argued that an effective wholesale pricing framework is critical to maintaining a healthy telecommunications ecosystem, particularly as operators continue to invest heavily in network infrastructure and digital connectivity.
The clarification comes months after telecom operators implemented a 50 per cent tariff adjustment approved by the NCC in 2025, which resulted in significant increases in the prices of voice and data services.
Among the adjustments, MTN Nigeria raised the price of its 1.8GB monthly data plan to N1,500 from the previous 1.5GB package priced at N1,000. The operator also increased the cost of its 20GB data plan to N7,500 from N5,500, while the 15GB package rose to N6,500 from N4,500.
The tariff increase attracted opposition from organised labour, with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) directing workers and willing Nigerians to boycott telecom services in protest.
Despite those concerns, operators insist that the current NCC review is strictly an industry pricing exercise and should not be interpreted as a precursor to another immediate increase in consumer tariffs.
