Nigerians worried about another hike in their call and data costs can breathe a little easier. The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, known as ALTON, says there are no plans for a fresh tariff increase right now.
The clarification comes after growing public concern over a new review by the Nigerian Communications Commission, the NCC. Many Nigerians feared the review could lead to higher prices for calls, SMS, and data, similar to what happened last year.
What the NCC Is Actually Reviewing
ALTON says this fear is misplaced. According to the group, the ongoing review has nothing to do with what consumers pay. Instead, it focuses on wholesale charges between telecom operators themselves.
Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of ALTON, was direct about it in an interview with AriseTV. He said there are no conversations happening right now about raising tariffs for consumers.
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The review is specifically about something called Mobile Termination Rates, or MTRs. These are fees one network pays another when a call moves from one network to a different one. For example, when an MTN user calls an Airtel user, MTN pays Airtel a small fee for completing that call.
Ordinary subscribers never see this fee directly. It only affects the background costs operators deal with among themselves.
Why This Review Is Happening Now
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The current wholesale rates were set back in 2018 and have not changed in eight years. Under that old system, older operators pay ₦3.90 per minute, while newer operators pay ₦4.70 per minute.
A lot has changed since 2018. Inflation, the rising cost of foreign exchange, higher energy bills, and continued investment in upgrading networks have all pushed up the cost of running telecom networks in Nigeria.
At the same time, how Nigerians communicate has shifted. More people now use apps like WhatsApp and Telegram for calls and messages instead of traditional phone lines, which has changed how much traffic moves between networks.
Adebayo explained that the NCC has started what is called a cost study to figure out fair wholesale rates between operators today. The regulator has brought in KPMG to carry out a full review of industry costs and speak with stakeholders. The study will also look at how much foreign telecom companies should pay when international calls land on Nigerian networks.
Why Nigerians Are Still Nervous
The fear around this review is not coming from nowhere. In January 2025, the NCC approved tariff increases of up to 50 percent, the first major retail price hike Nigeria’s telecom sector had seen in over ten years.
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Operators argued at the time that years of rising costs had made the old prices unsustainable. While the increase helped keep the industry running, it also added pressure on Nigerians already dealing with a tough economy.
So when news broke about another cost review, many people assumed it meant another price hike was coming. ALTON’s statement is meant to put that fear to rest.
Adebayo said he wants to assure Nigerians that following last year’s adjustment, the government made it clear that operators must improve service quality, expand their networks, and reach more underserved areas. He said that work is what operators are currently focused on, not new price increases.
What Operators Say They Are Focused On Instead
Rather than chasing more tariff increases, ALTON says operators are concentrating on meeting the promises tied to last year’s price adjustment. That means better service quality, wider network coverage, and reaching communities that still lack good connectivity.
This matters because the Federal Government has made broadband expansion and digital inclusion a major part of its economic plans. Building this kind of infrastructure needs steady investment in things like fibre cables, towers, and data systems.
A fair and properly reviewed wholesale pricing system, like the one the NCC is working on, could actually support this goal. If done right, it can encourage healthy competition and continued investment, rather than create new costs for everyday subscribers.
Once the NCC’s cost study is complete, it will shape how telecom companies deal with each other behind the scenes, not how much subscribers pay at checkout. Any new Mobile Termination Rates would affect business arrangements between operators, not the price on your data bundle or airtime top-up.
For Nigerians who have already adjusted to higher telecom costs over the past year, ALTON’s message offers some welcome reassurance. The review happening behind the scenes is about fairness between operators, not a fresh hit to your wallet. Whether that holds true in the months ahead is something worth watching, but for now, there is no new bill heading your way because of this particular review.
