Airtel Nigeria has quietly hiked the price of data subscription for its N5,000 monthly data bundle.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) observed the hike on Sunday, following threats by Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) to hike voice and data tariffs.
The N5,000 monthly data subscription bundle that used to be 20 GIG is now 18 GIG, ie. 2 GIG short. However, Airtel stated it only modified the data bundle.
“Hello @oyiboediri, we empathize. Kindly be informed that the data bundle has been modified. Please note that N5,000 activation is now 18GB + 2GB YouTube Night + 200MB Youtube Music / Spotify 30 Days. Thank you,” stated in response to an inquiry by TNG.
Recall ALTON had during a recent visit to the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, sought approval for a price review mechanism in the telecom sector.
The association blamed the increased cost of doing business and harsh economic realities for the price hike proposal.
According to ALTON chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, other sectors of Nigeria’s economy, including insurance and power, have implemented different degrees of tariff increment in the last six years but there has been no increase in the telecoms sector.
“Consumer prices in other sectors have seen a steep rise over the last six years as they adjust to reflect macroeconomic realities.
“However, telco prices have remained flat and even declined. Contrary to the price trends in other sectors, telcos have had to adjust for the macroeconomic headwinds caused by an increasing erosion of margins.
“Other highly regulated sectors, such as power and insurance, have implemented price increases over the last year. Insurance prices have risen 200 per cent with power raising prices by over 40 per cent,” he stated.
In his response, the Communications Minister said he would look into all that ALTON had tabled, stressing that the challenges are not insurmountable.
TNG reports Airtel, the Minister of Communications and the Nigerian Communications Commission did not immediately respond to calls for clarification on the hike.
