MTN Nigeria says future telecom tariff increases should happen in small, regular steps instead of waiting for many years before making one big adjustment. The company believes this approach will help operators keep up with rising costs without placing sudden pressure on customers.
The call came from MTN Nigeria CEO, Karl Toriola, who said the recent tariff increase helped the company return to a stronger financial position after facing serious pressure from rising operating costs. He explained that years without tariff reviews made it difficult for telecom companies to invest in network upgrades and maintain service quality.
According to Toriola, a gradual tariff review system would allow the industry to adjust prices in line with inflation and other economic changes. Instead of waiting for a large increase after many years, smaller adjustments could help operators continue investing in better infrastructure while reducing the shock for subscribers.
Nigeria’s telecom industry received approval for a tariff increase from the regulator in January 2025. Operators argued that tariffs had remained largely unchanged for more than a decade despite high inflation, a weaker naira, and rising energy costs. The adjustment was met with mixed reactions from consumers, many of whom were worried about the higher cost of calls and data.
MTN says the additional revenue has allowed it to increase spending on its network. The company says it invested about ₦900 billion in network expansion and maintenance in 2025 and plans to spend more than ₦1 trillion in 2026 to improve coverage, capacity, and service quality across the country.
The telecom giant also argued that the industry was under severe financial pressure before the tariff review. Toriola said the sector needed the increase not only to survive but also to continue expanding digital services and supporting Nigeria’s growing demand for mobile data.
For millions of Nigerians, the discussion means telecom prices could continue to change in the future if regulators approve a system of regular reviews. However, MTN believes smaller and more predictable adjustments would be easier for customers to manage than a single large increase after many years.
Whether gradual tariff reviews become reality will depend on future decisions by regulators and discussions with industry stakeholders. If adopted, the approach could help telecom operators maintain investment in network quality while giving customers more predictable pricing over time.
