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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has mandated telecommunications operators to simplify their tariff plans, bundles, and promotional activities. The regulator directed telcos to provide subscribers with clear, easy-to-understand, and accurate information about the costs of voice, short messaging service (SMS), and data services.
RELATED: NCC denies approving new telecom tariff hike
In an official statement signed by Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs, the telecoms regulator emphasized that this directive, titled “Guidance on the Simplification of Tariffs in the Nigerian Communications Sector,” was issued on July 29, 2024. It requires Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to publish a comprehensive table detailing the features of their tariff plans and bundle offers.
No new tariff hike
This announcement comes amidst media reports alleging that the NCC had approved a new tariff hike, which the NCC has denied, labeling the reports as fake news.
According to the NCC, the comprehensive table must include all necessary information for subscribers to make informed decisions. This includes details on add-ons, their prices, opt-in or opt-out procedures, terms and conditions for renewal, and rollover policies.
The guidelines result from consultations with industry stakeholders, including MNOs and Consumer Focus Groups, and extensive data analysis on consumer preferences and expectations.
The simplification guidelines aim to:
- Reduce the complexity of tariff plans and bundles.
- Ensure transparency and fairness in promotional elements of tariff plans.
- Protect consumers’ interests by providing clear and understandable tariff information.
- Promote fair competition among licensees by standardizing tariff structures.
Telcos must display information about tariffs and validity period
Service providers are also required to display relevant information about their tariffs, including the plan name, price, validity period, price-per-second for on or off-network and international calls, expected data speeds, and fair usage policies.
“Operators can maintain existing bonus-led tariff plans till 31st December 2024, within which period operators are expected to educate and migrate all subscribers to the simplified tariff plans,” the directive stated.
Additionally, MNOs must communicate tariffs to subscribers in “clear language and a user-friendly format,” ensuring full disclosure of a subscriber’s tariff plan via Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD).
Operators must offer stand-alone data bundles at fair prices to avoid tying consumers with unnecessary products. They must also state bonuses on promotions in actual value, eliminate access fees, and avoid asymmetric fee structures.
The NCC emphasized that operators must meet the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) standards set out in the Quality of Service (QoS) Regulations while complying with these guidelines.
COVER PHOTO: Dr-Aminu-Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of NCC.
