Telecommunications operators in Nigeria have threatened to shut down their services in some parts of the country in 2025 if the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) does not consider their demand for tariff review.
The operators disclosed this through a statement signed by the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, on Monday.
According to Adebayo, the survival of the telecom sector demands immediate and bold reform for its sustainability, adding that tariffs must be reviewed to reflect the economic realities of delivering telecom services at a minimum for industry sustainability.
The ALTON Chairman emphasised that without the tariff review, operators cannot continue to guarantee service availability.
Adebayo noted that rising operational costs, skyrocketing energy costs, the relentless pressure of inflation, and volatile exchange rates, amongst others, have all placed an unsustainable burden on network operators, adding that despite these mounting pressures, tariffs have remained stagnant, leaving operators trapped in a financial quagmire.
According to him, the resources needed to maintain, expand, and modernise telecom networks are no longer available, noting that without intervention, “the future of this sector is at grave risk.”
Adebayo noted that stakeholders have done their best over the years to sustain the sector by upholding the values and importance of telecommunications in society.
