To enhance transparency and protect consumers, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced a new directive requiring telecommunications operators to streamline their tariff plans, bundles, and promotional offers.
Issued on July 29, 2024, the directive, titled “Guidance on the Simplification of Tariffs in the Nigerian Communications Sector,” aims to provide subscribers with clear and straightforward information about the costs associated with voice, SMS, and data services.
Under the new guidelines, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are mandated to create and publish a detailed table outlining the features of their tariff plans and bundle offers. This table must include essential details such as add-on options, pricing, opt-in/opt-out procedures, renewal terms, and rollover policies.
The directive comes after extensive consultations with industry stakeholders, including MNOs and consumer focus groups, as well as a thorough analysis of consumer preferences. The goal is to reduce the complexity of tariff plans, promote transparency and fairness, and ensure that consumers have the necessary information to make informed decisions. Additionally, the guidelines aim to standardize tariff structures to foster fair competition among operators.
Service providers are now required to display comprehensive information about their tariffs, including the plan name, cost, validity period, per-second rates for calls, expected data speeds, and fair usage policies.
Operators are permitted to continue offering existing bonus-led tariff plans until December 31, 2024. During this transition period, they are expected to educate subscribers and migrate them to the newly simplified tariff plans.
The directive also emphasizes the need for MNOs to communicate tariffs clearly and in a user-friendly format, with full disclosure available through Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD). Furthermore, operators must offer standalone data bundles at fair prices and ensure that bonuses and promotional elements are stated in their actual value. Fees and fee structures should be straightforward and eliminate any asymmetries.
The NCC also highlighted that, while adhering to these new guidelines, operators must continue to meet the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) outlined in the Quality of Service (QoS) Regulations.
