Nigerian Regulator Mandates Clear Tariff Information, Simplified Bundles for Telecom Operators

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued guidelines on tariff plans, bundles and promotional activities. \r\n\r\nThe directive for the guidelines was issued to telecommunications operators, asking them to simplify their tariff plans, bundles, and promotional activities.\r\n\r\nThe NCC, in a statement issued on Monday and signed by its Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Reuben Muoka, stated that the directives would provide clear, easy-to-understand, and accurate information about the cost of voice, short messaging service (SMS) and data services to subscribers.\r\n\r\nThe directive, titled, “Guidance on the Simplification of Tariffs in the Nigerian Communications Sector,” was issued on July 29, 2024. It mandates Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to publish a comprehensive table showing the features of their tariff plans and bundle offers.\r\n\r\nNCC said the table should contain all necessary information for subscribers to make informed decisions, including details on add-ons, their prices, how consumers can opt-in or out, terms and conditions for renewal, and rollover policies.\r\n\r\nAccording to the statement, the guideline was the outcome of consultations with industry stakeholders, including MNOs and Consumer Focus Groups, and extensive data analysis on consumer preferences and expectations.\r\n\r\nThe objectives of the simplification guidelines are to reduce the complexity of tariff plans and bundles, ensure transparency and fairness of promotional elements of tariff plans, protect consumers’ interests by providing clear and understandable tariff information so that they make informed decisions, and promote fair competition among licensees by standardising tariff structures.