Telecom companies in Nigeria are thinking about raising the prices for calls and internet data. This move comes as these companies face money problems. MTN Nigeria suffered a big loss because the country’s currency, the naira, lost value. Airtel also saw its earnings drop.
Last year, telecoms in Nigeria had a rough time. MTN Nigeria lost about ₦135 billion (equal to $101 million), while Airtel’s revenue fell by almost 22%.
The Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) says the telecom industry hasn’t raised its prices in 11 years. They argue that keeping prices low is becoming hard because of economic challenges.
ALTON wants the government to talk with telecom companies to figure out a solution that works for everyone. They worry that if prices don’t go up, the industry could be in trouble.
One big issue is vandalism. In 2023, MTN and Airtel lost ₦27 billion because of damage to their cables. The government is planning new rules to protect telecom equipment and punish vandals.
As prices for many things in Nigeria go up, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) suggests that telecom companies share their equipment to save money and provide better service.
Aminu Maida, a top official at the NCC, talked about this at a telecom meeting in Lagos. He said that even though Nigeria has a lot of mobile users and people who like technology, there are still problems with service and infrastructure.
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