TELECOM operators, under the auspices of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), have asked the new Minister of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, to issue policy guidance to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to commence implementation of targeted interventions, starting with an upward review of voice call rates, among others.
According to media reports, the operators cited the increasing cost of business operations and the harsh economy, including macroeconomic headwinds such as inflation, currency devaluation, sustained difficulty in accessing forex at an affordable rate, rising energy costs, and the rising cost of securing telecommunications facilities and field personnel in the face of worsening insecurity, among others as reasons for the review.
In his words, the ALTON Chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo said: “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.”
In his response, the Communication Minister said he would look into all that had been tabled by ALTON, adding that the challenges were not insurmountable.
