By Adedapo Adesanya
Telecommunication operators in Nigeria have called on the federal government to address pricing challenges amid the current economic climate in the country and the world at large.
The appeal was made in a joint statement by the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) signed by Mr Gbenga Adebayo, the ALTON Chairman and Mr Tony Emoekpere, the ATCON President on Thursday.
The two associations (ALTON and ATCON) represent Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and telecommunication companies, respectively.
The telecom operators urged the government to establish a framework that balanced consumers’ affordability with operators’ financial viability.
They said: “For a fully liberalised and deregulated sector, the current price control mechanism, which is not aligned with economic realities, threatens the industry’s sustainability and can erode investors’ confidence.
“Despite the adverse economic headwinds, the telecommunications industry remains the only industry yet to review its general service pricing framework upward in the last 11 years, primarily due to regulatory constraints.
“Government needs to facilitate a constructive dialogue with industry stakeholders to address pricing challenges and establish a framework that balances consumers’ affordability with operators’ financial viability.”
The operators further urged the government to take decisive action in addressing the numerous challenges confronting the telecommunications industry.
The associations also advocated for the sustenance of a culture of independence in the regulatory landscape, saying this would inspire trust in the telecom sector and encourage investment.
According to them, it will safeguard undue influence and unwholesome incursion into the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) domain.
“Regulatory neutrality and independence are crucial to ensuring a thriving telecommunications sector.
“Statutory provisions lend credence to this notion, as a lack of an impartial regulator will lead to a failure to maintain public confidence in the objectivity and independence of its decisions,” they said.
According to them, there is an urgent need for collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors to overcome obstacles hindering the sector’s growth and development.
The associations said that their members still lacked access to essential telecommunication services due to myriad of challenges.
They noted that the challenges included multiple taxation, regulations, prohibitive Right of Way (RoW) charges, inadequate electric power supply and vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure.
The associations also advocated for legislation that designated telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI).
In their statement, the two associations expressed deep concern over the escalating security threats facing telecommunications infrastructure in Nigeria.
“Telecom infrastructure undisputedly plays a pivotal role in Nigeria’s national security and socioeconomic growth, especially as the country currently contends with multiple security challenges that require urgent and immediate actions in response to these threats.
“Attacks on cell towers, fibre optic cables, and other critical assets disrupt telecommunications services and result in significant financial losses for operators.
“We urge the government to prioritise the security of telecommunications infrastructure and collaborate with law enforcement agencies to enhance protection measures and combat vandalism and sabotage effectively.
“The industry also requires substantial investments in network expansion, maintenance, and technology upgrades,” they said.