Airtel Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer, Dinesh Balsingh, has said the 300 percent surge in operational cost in the last two years, has made tariff adjustments necessary for the long-term sustainability of the telecom sector.
Speaking with one of Nigeria’s foremost newspapers, The Punch on Monday, 6th January 2025, Balsingh noted with concern the tough economic realities that have bedeviled the country’s telecom industry, despite the fact that call tariffs have remained static for more than a decade.
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Nigerian telecos had submitted a proposal for a 100 percent tariff increase to the Nigerian Communications Commission NCC in line with present economic realities.
According to Balsingh, the proposed tariff adjustments aim to ensure the sector’s sustainability while delivering significant benefits for Nigerian consumers.
He said “for over a decade, tariffs have remained static despite the dramatic increase in operating expenses, which have surged by over 300 percent in the last 18 to 24 months alone.
To continue providing high-quality services and meeting the growing demand for digital connectivity, it has become essential to realign our pricing structure with economic realities.
Speaking on the increase in demand for digital services across sectors such as education, banking and finance, healthcare etc, the telecom executive noted that operators have had to continually upgrade the networks, as the investments are capital intensive and must be shared proportionally to guarantee long-term viability.
“By enabling us to expand coverage, strengthen network security and introduce cutting-edge technologies, these adjustments will directly enhance the quality of connectivity for Nigerians. Our priority is to ensure that no one is left behind in the country’s digital transformation journey”, he said.
Edited by: Anthonia Umoh.
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