Airtel Nigeria, the country’s second-largest telecom operator, has implemented a tariff adjustment of up to 50 percent on its data bundles, citing rising operational costs.
The revised pricing, published on its website on Monday, reflects the broader challenges facing telecom operators, including inflation and foreign exchange volatility.
The price hike affects various data plans, with adjustments also made to voice call tariffs at weekends.
A senior Airtel official, speaking to journalists, confirmed the development, clarifying that while prices have increased, the hike is not as high as 50 percent.
“Yes, we have updated data prices today, and they are available on our website. However, the increase is not up to 50 percent,” the official said.
The revised daily and weekly data plans are N50 for 40MB (1 day); N100 for 100MB (1 day); N200 for 200MB (3 days); N350 for 1GB (1 day); N350 for 350MB (7 days); N500 for 750MB + 1GB YouTube night, and 200MB YouTube Music/Spotify (7 days); N500 for 1GB + 1GB YouTube night, and 50MB socials (7 days); N500 for 2GB (2 days) and N1,500 for 5GB (7 days).
Airtel assured customers of continued affordability, stating further that “whatever your data needs are, we have a plan for you. Our fast, affordable, and reliable internet experience will keep you connected anytime, anywhere.”
Meanwhile, MTN Nigeria, the country’s largest telecom provider, had also raised its data and call tariffs in line with regulatory approval from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
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The adjustments, implemented over the past week, mean customers now pay more for calls, SMS, and internet services.
The tariff hikes have come into effect, as telecom operators struggle with escalating costs tied to inflation, foreign exchange fluctuations, and the increasing expense of network expansion.
While the telecom companies argue that the changes are necessary to sustain long-term service improvements, subscribers are expected to feel the financial strain as communication costs rise.
