Why We Directed MTN, Others To Increase Data Tariff ~ NCC

Following the outcry of Nigerians overs announcement in hike of data tariff, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has come out to defend the reason behind the directive to the five big telecoms operators in the country to increase their data tariffs from Thursday, December 1.

According to NCC, their main reason is in order to allow small operators and new entrants to acquire market share and operate profitably.

The NCC official who spoke on condition of anonymity on Monday said the regulator came up with the new data regime after some new entrants into the market complained that there was no way they could break even if they operated on same data regime with the likes of MTN, Glo, Etisalat and Airtel, Daily Trust reports.

He said NCC yielded to their pressure when last month it notified the operators of the new rate.

Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, on Tuesday urged the Federal Government not to increase the cost of data to avoid further pressure on mobile telephone users.