Utweets
NIGERIANS ARE HAPPY WITH TINUBU| JUST A YEAR PLUS IN OFFICE, TINUBU HAS DONE WHAT NO OTHER PRESIDENT HAS NEVER DONE BEFORE IN OFFICE. SEE FULL LIST OF HIS ACHIEVEMENTS HERE.Telecommunications operators in Nigeria have reiterated the need for an upward review of tariffs on calls, data, and other services to ensure the industry’s survival amid worsening economic conditions. ...Tap To Read The Full Story Here | ..Tap To Read The Full Story Here...
The operators, under the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), highlighted that the current pricing model is unsustainable given the prevailing inflation, high energy costs, and volatile exchange rates.
Gists9ja reports that the Chairman of ALTON, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, made this assertion during an end-of-year industry stakeholders’ event in Lagos. Speaking on the theme “Before the Final Call: Telecom as Sector Under Siege,” Adebayo painted a grim picture of the sector’s future if immediate reforms are not implemented.
Call for Urgent Action
Adebayo emphasized that the industry is nearing collapse due to stagnant tariffs that no longer align with the economic realities of providing telecommunications services.
“This is not a time for further deliberation or delayed decisions. The survival of the telecom sector demands immediate and bold reforms for its sustainability. Our tariffs must be reviewed to reflect the cost of delivering services. Without this, operators cannot continue to guarantee service availability,” Adebayo warned.
He further noted that the challenges in the sector include:
- Rising Operational Costs: The escalating costs of maintaining infrastructure and delivering services.
- Energy Costs: Increasing expenses for powering telecom operations.
- Inflation: Persistent upward pressure on general prices.
- Volatile Exchange Rates: Significant impacts on the cost of imported equipment and services.
Tariff Stagnation and Its Implications
Despite these mounting challenges, telecom tariffs have remained unchanged for years, leaving operators in a financially precarious position.
“The time for action is now. Let us not wait until it is too late,” Adebayo said, adding that ALTON is prepared to collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), to ensure the sector’s sustainability.
Awaiting Regulatory Approval
Reports have indicated that telecom operators are awaiting NCC approval to implement new rates for calls, SMS, and data bundles. The proposed increase aims to align with the economic realities of running the sector and prevent its collapse.NIGERIANS ARE HAPPY WITH TINUBU| JUST A YEAR PLUS IN OFFICE, TINUBU HAS DONE WHAT NO OTHER PRESIDENT HAS NEVER DONE BEFORE IN OFFICE. SEE FULL LIST OF HIS ACHIEVEMENTS HERE.
Conclusion
As the telecom sector faces unprecedented pressures, the call for an upward tariff review reflects the urgent need to secure its future. ALTON has warned that without decisive intervention, hopes for a stable and prosperous 2025 may remain unfulfilled...Tap To Read The Full Story Here.
