The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued a directive to telecommunications operators, mandating the simplification of their tariff plans, bundles, and promotional activities. This initiative aims to provide subscribers with clear, easy-to-understand, and accurate information regarding the costs of voice, SMS, and data services.
Titled “Guidance on the Simplification of Tariffs in the Nigerian Communications Sector,” the directive was issued on July 29, 2024. It requires Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to publish a comprehensive table detailing the features of their tariff plans and bundle offers. This table must include all necessary information for subscribers to make informed decisions, such as add-on details, prices, opt-in or opt-out procedures, terms and conditions for renewal, and rollover policies.
The guideline results from extensive consultations with industry stakeholders, including MNOs and Consumer Focus Groups, and thorough data analysis on consumer preferences and expectations. The objectives are to reduce the complexity of tariff plans and bundles, ensure transparency and fairness in promotional elements, protect consumers’ interests by providing clear tariff information, and promote fair competition among licensees by standardizing tariff structures.
Service providers are also required to display relevant information about their tariffs, such as plan names, prices, validity periods, price-per-second for on-network, off-network, and international calls, expected data speeds, and fair usage policies.
Operators are permitted to maintain existing bonus-led tariff plans until December 31, 2024, during which they are expected to educate and migrate all subscribers to the simplified plans. The directive mandates that MNOs communicate tariffs in “clear language and a user-friendly format,” with full disclosure via USSD.
Additionally, the directive specifies that operators must offer stand-alone data bundles at fair prices, avoid tying consumers to unwanted products, state promotion bonuses in actual value, and eliminate access fees and asymmetric fee structures.
The NCC emphasized that while complying with these guidelines, operators must also meet the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) standards set out in the Quality of Service (QoS) Regulations.
Signed:
Reuben Muoka
Director Public Affairs