The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued a directive to telecommunications operators to simplify their tariff plans, bundles, and promotional activities.
This move aims to provide clear, easy-to-understand, and accurate information about the cost of voice, short messaging service (SMS) and data services to subscribers.
The directive, titled “Guidance on the Simplification of Tariffs in the Nigerian Communications Sector,” was issued on July 18, 2024, and mandates Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to publish a comprehensive table showing the features of their tariff plans and bundle offers.
The table should contain all necessary information for subscribers to make informed decisions, including details on basic plans, their prices, how consumers can sign up, or terms and conditions for renewal, and rollover.
The guideline is the outcome of consultations with industry stakeholders, including MNOs and Consumer Focus Groups, and extensive data analysis on consumer preferences and expectations.
The objective of the simplified table guidelines is to reduce the complexity of MNOs tariff plans and bundles, providing consumers and other stakeholders with an easier means of identifying, comparing, and procuring options and understandable tariff information to make informed decisions, and promote fair competition and transparency as foundational pillars of the telecom sector.
The table aims to encourage MNOs to display all relevant aspects of their tariffs, such as the name and description of plans, bundled services, per cent of on or off network and international calls, expected speeds for data services, price per second for data or time-based tariffs.
Operators are expected to comply with this directive by 31st December 2024, which will prohibit promotions that offer misleading benefits that do not meet the simplified tariff plans,” the directive stated.
The simplified tariff disclosure table must be made available for all subscribers in “clear language and understandable formats,” and must be updated and made available regularly. Supplementary materials shall also be made available in English.
Written by Ikechukwu Onuonga
Additionally, NCC has ordered telecommunications operators that all prices to various consumer services must be itemized separately, while any compulsory fees paid by consumers should have access fees and include taxes and related charges.
Subscribers should be able to verify that their tariff or bundle plans meet the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) as set out in the Quality of Service (QoS) regulations.
