The Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria has assured Nigerians that the recent increase in telecom tariffs is a necessary step toward sustaining and improving the nation’s digital infrastructure.
The association’s president, Mr. Tony Emoekpere, shared this perspective during a telephone conversation with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Wednesday.
While acknowledging public concerns about the tariff adjustment, Emoekpere stressed that the increase is inevitable due to the economic challenges telecom operators have faced in recent years.
He described it as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s digital economy.
“For years, telecom operators have operated under immense financial strain due to foreign exchange fluctuations, high energy costs, multiple taxation, and rising infrastructure expenses,” Emoekpere explained.
“These challenges have made it increasingly difficult to expand network capacity, improve service quality, and bridge the digital divide. Without adjustments in pricing, Nigeria’s digital infrastructure risks stagnation, making it harder for the country to compete in the global digital economy,” he added.
He emphasized that the tariff increase goes beyond pricing and focuses on ensuring telecom operators can maintain and enhance the quality of services.
“This tariff increase is an investment in the future of Nigeria’s digital economy, as it will enable operators to expand 4G and 5G coverage across more locations, particularly underserved areas. This increment will bring about the upgrade of network sites to ensure better reliability. It will also enhance broadband speeds to support businesses, education, fintech, telemedicine, and other critical digital services,” he said.
According to Emoekpere, the success of the tariff adjustment will ultimately be measured by visible improvements in service quality.
He reassured the public that the telecom sector is committed to meeting these expectations.
“That is the ultimate goal, and the telecom industry is fully committed to delivering on this promise,” he stated.
He noted that sustainable pricing is crucial for securing long-term investments in Nigeria’s telecom industry, a view also shared by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association.
Emoekpere also pointed out that several industry challenges still need to be addressed to foster genuine digital transformation.
“The focus should also be on simplifying Right of Way permits to speed up fibre deployment. It should also focus on fully enforcing Critical National Information Infrastructure protections to stop vandalism of telecom assets. Again, we should emphasise the reduction of the multiple layers of taxation that telecom operators face at federal, state, and local levels, and provide incentives for rural broadband expansion to ensure digital inclusion across all communities,” he said.
Despite these challenges, he expressed optimism, noting that some of the issues were at different stages of resolution. He cited the recent resolution of the USSD debt issue as a positive indicator of the government’s willingness to support the sector.
“This should not stop us from remembering that consumers have a right to demand better services. The tariff increase should come with a visible improvement in quality: faster speeds, wider coverage, and greater reliability. From all indications, the telecom operators are geared toward meeting these expectations, and the NCC has set clear quality service targets,” Emoekpere noted.
