Telecommunications operators within the nation are contemplating a overview of the present nationwide tariff plans to usher in a regional tariff regime the place they’re able to issue within the particular challenges in every state to their tariff plans.
The operators acknowledged this on the seventh version of the Coverage Implementation Assisted Discussion board (PIAFo) in Lagos.
In response to them, a regional tariff regime would make sure that the states with higher ease of doing enterprise are compensated whereas these making their operations tough are made to pay larger for the service.
Particularly, the Chairman of the Affiliation of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Engr. Gbenga Adebayo stated some states are very tough to function and this needs to be factored into the price of operations.
“We might must rethink difficulty of our nationwide tariffs and take a look at regional tariffs. If you’re conscious that the price of doing enterprise is excessive in a selected state and it’s not possible to barter with them, issue the price of deployment in these areas to the price of offering providers,” he stated.
Completely different operations prices
Corroborating his ALTON counterpart, the President of the Affiliation Telecommunications Corporations of Nigeria (ATCON) Mr. Tony Emoekpere stated the present nationwide tariff is unfair as a result of completely different areas have completely different operational prices.
- The consideration got here towards the backdrop of difficulties confronted by telecom operators in some states via a number of taxation and assaults on their infrastructure.
- In response to Emoekpere, states that make operations straightforward for the telcos needs to be compensated whereas these making issues tough needs to be made to pay extra.
“If it prices me additional to haul diesel from one a part of the nation to a different, I ought to be capable to add that value to the service otherwise you compensate me for that by making your setting enticing for me to function,” he stated.
- Earlier, talking on the theme of the convention: “Strengthening Safety of Important Info Infrastructure via Proactive Implementation and Strategic Coordination,” the convener of PIAFo, Mr Omobayo Azeez, stated that there was the necessity for stakeholders to work collectively to guard Nigeria’s digital financial system.
- Azeez stated that the latest passage of the Important Nationwide Info Infrastructure (CNII) Order by President Bola Tinubu was a major milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s digital financial system.
What it’s best to know
The Nigerian Communications Fee (NCC) lately accredited a 50% tariff enhance for telecom operators after years of agitation over the rising operation prices within the nation.
The telcos as regulated by the NCC, at the moment function a nationwide tariff regime, whereby the subscribers pay the identical tariff no matter their location within the nation.
The suggestion of a regional tariff regime to mirror the price of operations in every area continues to be topic to regulatory approval because the NCC should approve all tariff plans for the telecom operators.
