MTN Nigeria has increased its call rates to N13.8 per minute (23 kobo per second) from N7.8 per minute (13 kobo per second), representing a 76.92% increase.
This forms part of the telecom operators’ upward review of prices following the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) approval of a 50 percent tariff hike in the industry.
The telco has also increased its SMS rate to N6 from N4 and is in the middle of increasing its data bundle prices. The telco disclosed this in a message to pulse customers on Monday, stating, “Y’ello! Keep enjoying calls at 23k/s to all networks and N6/SMS on Pulse.”
According to insiders in the company, prices are still being updated across all bundles, and new prices and adjustments are expected to be reflected over the weekend and next week.
Since the beginning of the week, the Mobile Network Operator has been implementing new price rates for different services. It has reviewed its data plans, including a 1.8GB monthly plan for N1,500, replacing the previous 1.5GB plan priced at N1,000.
Its 20GB plan has been adjusted to N7,500, up from N5,500, while the 15GB plan now costs N6,500, up from N4,500. Its 90-day 1.5TB plan has jumped from N150,000 to N240,000, and the 600GB 90-day plan increased from N75,000 to N120,000. Its two/three-month data plan of 100GN for N20,000 is now 90GB for N25,000; 160GB for N30,000 is now 150GB for N40,000.
For now, other operators are yet to review their prices but are expected to follow MTN’s lead after the NCC approved a 50 percent increase in the price of calls, data, and SMS on January 20 for the first time in a decade.
While this hike is meant to support telcos’ ability to continue investing in infrastructure and innovation, experts have noted that it may further strain consumers’ pockets.
According to Bismarck Rewane, chief executive officer of Financial Derivatives Company, the hike promises to benefit operators but will put additional strain on consumers’ pockets, possibly “resulting in reduced usage from consumers.”