Nigeria Telecommunications Companies, MTN and Airtel, have announced an increase in price for their internet data services by about 10 per cent. The hike in data rate was confirmed on their separate verified Twitter pages in response to inquiries by their customers.
In a letter to the Nigerian Communications Commission, the telecom companies explain that the circa 40 percent increase in the cost of doing business and the state of the economy has necessitated the proposed raise in services. However, NCC responded that there was a need to follow certain processes before an increase could be implemented.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami during the inaugural meeting of the Presidential Committee on Excise Duty for the Digital Economy Sector in Abuja, explains that with the increase in operating costs due to inflation and rising diesel, among others, there were more than 15 attempts to increase the price of telecommunication services within three years, which he kicked against.
The recent 10 percent hike is still less than the 40 per cent increase in the cost of calls, SMS, and data initially proposed by telecommunication companies under the control of the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria.
