The Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, has said that telecommunications operators will disrupt service if the government fails to approve upward tariff review.
Adebayo who spoke for the operators said this in a statement issued on Monday in the wake of a clarification by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) that upward review of tariff has not been approved.
The ALTON chair made the call due to high operational costs driven by inflation, volatile exchange rates, and rising energy prices.
He said that the country’s telecom sector is “under siege,” as tariffs have remained unchanged.
Adebayo warned, “If nothing is done, we might begin to see in the new year grim consequences unfolding, such as service shedding.”
Service shedding is the deliberate and temporary cutting off of a service to certain areas to prevent a widespread blackout.
He added, “Operators may not be able to provide services in some areas and at some times of the day leaving millions disconnected, there will be significant economic fallout, because businesses will suffer from a lack of connectivity, stalling growth and innovation.
“There will also be national economic disruption where key sectors like security, commerce, healthcare, and education which rely heavily on telecom infrastructure, will face serious disruptions.”
The ALTON boss decried financial stress on operators, adding the burden is no longer sustainable.
He said the situation limits the operator’s ability to maintain critical infrastructure.
Recall that earlier in 2024, ATON called for a first tariff review claiming the last review was conducted about 10 years.
ALTON and the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria issued a joint statement soliciting for an urgent review in other to save the industry.
The demands by telecom operators had triggered fears that the government has approved a tariff review effective January 2025.
However, the industry regulator- the NCC dismissed claims of a telecommunications tariff hike allegedly set to take effect in January 2025.
“These rumours are baseless and misleading. The NCC is committed to protecting consumers and ensuring that any potential tariff changes are communicated clearly and transparently,” the official stated.
“Subscribers can rest assured that no tariff increase has been approved,” a senior officer at the NCC told local media.