MTN Nigeria has started increasing the prices of its data plans as part of a 50% tariff adjustment approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in January. The new pricing, which is being implemented gradually, does not affect call and SMS rates at this time.
The price changes are mainly seen in data plans, with notable increases across different packages. Checks on Tuesday showed that the popular 1.5GB monthly plan, which previously cost N1,000, has been replaced with a 1.8GB plan priced at N1,500. Similarly, the 15GB plan has gone up from N4,500 to N6,500, while the 20GB plan now costs N7,500, up from N5,500.
Larger data bundles have also seen significant hikes. The 600GB 90-day plan now costs N120,000, a jump from N75,000, while the 1.5 terabyte (TB) 90-day plan has increased from N150,000 to N240,000.
The NCC had announced the tariff adjustment on January 20, stating that the decision was necessary due to rising operational costs in the telecommunications industry. The Commission noted that the increase aligns with its mandate under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, to ensure the sustainability of telecom services in the country.
However, the decision has faced opposition from the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS). The group has expressed dissatisfaction with the hike and is calling for a reduction to 10%. NATCOMS has also threatened legal action if the price adjustments are not reviewed.
