50% Tariff Hike: Airtel increases prices of data, voice, text

• Airtel Nigeria has increased the prices of data, voice, and text
• The adjustments are in keeping with the recently approved 50 per cent tariff hike
• Airtel said the adjustments were necessary to sustain operations amid economic challenges

Nigeria’s second-largest communications operator, Airtel Nigeria, has increased tariffs for data, voice, and text as it begins implementing the approved 50 per cent telecom tariff hike.

The pricing adjustments, which took effect recently, were confirmed by a statement on the company’s website and the *312# USSD code.

According to the company, the adjustments were necessary to sustain operations amid economic challenges, compounded by heightened inflation and foreign exchange volatility.

Airtel Nigeria assured subscribers that it remains committed to delivering value despite the economic challenges.

New data pricing

The price adjustments bring changes to Airtel Nigeria’s daily, weekly, monthly, and other data plans.

The new prices for daily data plans are: N50 for 40MB (valid for one day), N100 for 100MB (valid for one day), N200 for 200MB (valid for three days), and N350 for 1GB (valid for one day).

For daily data plans, the new prices are: N350 for 350MB (valid for seven days), N500 for 750MB plus 1GB YouTube Night and 200MB YouTube Music/Spotify (valid for seven days), N500 for 1GB plus 1GB YouTube Night and 50MB Socials (valid for seven days), and N500 for 2GB (valid for two days).

Monthly data plans now cost 3GB for N2,000 (formerly 1.5GB at N1,200), 4GB for N2,500 (previously 3GB at N1,500), and 8GB for N3,000 (formerly 4.5GB at N2,000).

Other adjustments include 10GB for N4,000 (formerly 6GB at N2,500), 13GB for N5,000 (from 10GB at N3,000), 18GB for N6,000 (formerly 15GB at N4,000), and 25GB for N8,000 (previously 18GB at N5,000).

However, some tariff plans, like the 5GB weekly plan for N1,500, remain unchanged.

New voice and text prices

Apart from adjustments to data prices, Airtel Nigeria increased voice and text prices.

With the new pricing, Airtel’s call rates have risen to 25 kobo per second from about 18 kobo per second.

Also, the cost of text (SMS) increased to N6.00 per message from N4.00 previously.

Other telecom networks increased tariffs

Apart from Airtel Nigeria, other telecommunication operators in Nigeria have increased tariffs following the approval of a 50 per cent adjustment in tariffs by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

MTN Nigeria, the leading telecommunication operator in Nigeria, increased data, voice, and text tariffs, with some data subscription plans witnessing over a 200 per cent increase.

The increase sparked outrage from Nigerians, resulting in the trend of ‘from 2k to 6k’ across social media platforms.

Globacom and 9mobile have also implemented price adjustments to their tariffs.

50% tariff hike: MTN increases prices of internet data

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that telecommunications giant, MTN Nigeria, increased the price of internet data across different bundles.

The new pricing means that internet subscribers will now have to pay N6,000 for a 15GB weekly data plan, a 200 per cent increase from the previous N2,000.