Local News : As Stated By NCC, from Dec.1st, There Would Be Hike In Price Of Data Bundles Across ALL Networks, As FG Imposes Tax, Senate Set To Step In... Details Here 👇

Subscribers of the Global System of Mobile (GSM) telecommunications across the country would pay more for data with effect from December 1, 2016.

Although the telecoms companies declined to speak on the matter, top management workers across the networks confirmed the story to our correspondent, saying that the directive was from the Nigerian Communications Commission.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a senior management employee of Etisalat Nigeria said,

   ''The NCC issued the directive late last week on the orders of the Federal Government. We have not announced it yet because most of the major telcos have been meeting the NCC on how to reverse this policy, because it will be too harsh for Nigerians.

   ''However, we further gathered that the Federal Government took the decision having discovered that data rates are very low-priced in Nigeria, compared to other countries, including nearby African countries.

   ''The government might have also taken the decision given that Nigerian subscribers have been kicking against the proposed nine per cent Communication Tax, whose bill is currently in the National Assembly.''

Executive Vice-Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Dambatta, pleading not to be mentioned, an employee of MTN, said,

   ''What this means is that MTN, Airtel, Etisalat And Globacom will increase their data rates as from December 1, 2016. A data plan of N1,000 for 1.5 Gigabytes will now be increased to N3,000 at N1,000 per 500 Megabytes.''

In text messages sent out to its subscribers, MTN, Africa’s mobile telecommunications giant, confirmed that it had agreed to implement the directive of the NCC.

The MTN text read, ''Dear customer, please be informed that from 1st of December, some MTN data tariffs will be increased to reflect the new rates set by the NCC for operators. Thank you.''

The Punch could not obtain an official response from the NCC at of the time of filing this report.

However, a representative of the commission said that the telecoms regulator was unaware of such plans by the operators, even as she said her bosses had claimed ignorance of the circulated message.

   ''We are unaware of it. I just asked my bosses, they are unaware. We will forward your query to MTN for appropriate attention.'' She said over the telephone.

However, in a letter by the NCC to the operators, the commission stated,

   ''This rate will subsist pending the finalisation of the study on the determination of cost-based pricing for retail broadband and data services in Nigeria.

   ''All operators are to ensure that subscribers are not automatically migrated to pay-as-you-go platform.

   ''Also, note that effective date for the interim price floor is December 1, 2016.''

…As anger trails NCC directive to telcos to hike tariff

Nigerians have reacted angrily to the recent directive by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to telecom operators to increase the tariff for data services, with several of them calling on the National Assembly to intervene in the matter.

In reaction to the NCC directive, MTN has started sending out bulk messages to its subscribers alerting them of the planned increase. The text message read:  “Dear customer, please be informed that from1st Dec, some MTN data tariffs will be increased to reflect the new rates set by the NCC to operators. Thank you.” 

Sources indicate that the new rate could see subscribers of MTN, GLO, AIRTEL & Etisalat paying as much as N1000 for 500 megabytes instead of the 1 gigabyte, 1.5 gigabytes or 2 gigabytes they currently get, depending on the network. 

There could be charges for other telecom services in the country in order to meet the reported proposition by Godwin Emefiele, the Central Bank Governor, for a tax from mobile phone users in the country as part of efforts to address the economic recession. 

Many subscribers who reacted to the issue via their twitter handles wondered why NCC would seek to bring more hardship on Nigerians who are battling to survive the economic recession. They called on Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to stop the draconian directive by NCC.

The Senate President in a short message on his Twitter handle has promised that the Senate would intervene. 

Senator Shehu Sani was among those who condemned the planned increase. “At a time telecom companies are still making billions in profits despite the recession, increasing tariff on data services is simply about extorting more from the people for data after paying more for electricity,” Senator Sani wrote.

Henry Ezeanya wrote: “can you people kindly look into the NCC's hike in data charges. Market force bringing prices down, but NCC wants it up..”

Seyi Benz: “they want to gag us by increasing tariff so we can't come online n harangue them on bad governance. It's a ploy.”

Judith Hanrankis : “sir, am a student that still manage to subscribe with 1500 for my assignments, pls I can’t afford this NCC new rate,do something”.

David Olar tweeted: “Pls #SaveOurSoul @bukolasaraki Call Tariffs should be cheaper @NgComCommission can not be acting a script of incompetent.”

Olumide: “still wondering how people in NIGauthority think, other countries: almost free wifi, Nigerian govt. data4d rich”.

Umar. S: “Pls sir, don’t let them hike it. Nigerians are already feeling the heat.”

Nwachukwu Ugochukwu: We trust you to act fast on this as usual. Thanks Mr President.

Kazzem Mossa Tijani: “Enough of these extortions. Salary is not increased. Salary is not regular and everything is just going up. What a country. It seems NCC is not experiencing recession. God save us from these heartless people.”

Olushola Olufolabi: “cheap cost of reliable communication enables good business, good business translates to good economy growth”

In a short reply to the numerous tweets, Saraki confirmed that the Senate will look into the data tariff increase. “Will do”, the Senate President said.

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