You see, the infrastructure deficit in Nigeria makes it difficult for companies to thrive but telecom giants are doing their best to cope.
But when the cost of operation is becoming too high and about to put the supposed telecom giants out of business, they will react.
So, it may not be surprising to see the telecom giants who have operated in Nigeria for over a decade without calling for tariff hikes doing so now.
At a meeting of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria and the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria, an advocacy for tariff hikes was made to the federal government citing the economic realities in Nigeria and sustainability concerns.
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ATCON and ALTON in a joint statement urged the government to address the pricing challenges and regulatory constraints impacting the industry.
Tariff Hikes
They emphasised the need for a pricing framework that aligns with economic conditions and ensures the sector’s sustainability.
According to the telecom giants; Airtel, MTN, 9Mobile, and Glo, there has not been an upward review of pricing in the sector for over a decade.
This, they attributed to regulatory limitations despite ongoing economic challenges.
The joint statement stated that “For a fully liberalised and deregulated sector, the current price control mechanism in the industry is not sustainable.
Furthermore, they argued that their prices do not reflect the economic realities, and this can threaten investors “confidence.”
Tackle Insecurity
The telecom giants said it is important to balance consumers’ affordability with operators’ financial viability to maintain a healthy telecommunications ecosystem.
Moreover, they explained that their concerns go beyond the telecommunications industry’s pricing issues.
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According to the companies, the issue of insecurity in the country is terribly affecting their services and productivity.
They urged the federal government to address insecurity, stating how critical a secure environment is in facilitating uninterrupted telecom services.
