Airtel Nigeria Implements Data and Voice Tariff Hikes of Up to 50% in Response to Rising Operational Costs, Inflation, and Forex Volatility, Joining Industry Trend of Price Adjustments
Airtel Nigeria, the second-largest telecom operator in the country, has implemented a significant revision in its data pricing structure, with some tariffs increasing by up to 50%. The change, which was made public on the company’s website Monday, is expected to affect various data bundles offered by the telecom giant.
The price adjustment comes amidst rising concerns in the telecom sector over escalating operational costs. Although Airtel has yet to release an official statement, the decision aligns with the broader trend in the industry, where telecom operators are reviewing their pricing structures to cope with inflation and volatile foreign exchange rates.
In addition to data price hikes, Airtel, which serves over 56 million subscribers across Nigeria, increased its voice call tariffs over the weekend. A senior official from Airtel confirmed the changes during an interview with NEWS REVIEW on Monday, noting that the adjustments were necessary due to the rising costs of operation.
“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 clarified. The official also reassured customers that Airtel remains committed to providing affordable internet access, with several plans tailored to suit different user needs. The revised daily and weekly data plans now include options such as:
- N50 for 40MB valid for 1 day
- N100 for 100MB valid for 1 day
- N200 for 200MB valid for 3 days
- N350 for 1GB valid for 1 day
- N350 for 350MB valid for 7 days
- N500 for 750MB plus 1GB YouTube Night and 200MB YouTube Music/Spotify valid for 7 days
- N500 for 1GB plus 1GB YouTube Night and 50MB Socials valid for 7 days
- N500 for 2GB valid for 2 days
- N1500 for 5GB valid for 7 days
These changes follow a similar trend across the telecom industry, with Nigeria’s largest telecom operator, MTN, also increasing its data and call tariffs in response to challenges including inflation and currency devaluation. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved these price hikes, which have already seen a rise in the cost of voice calls, SMS, and internet services for MTN subscribers.
The price hikes from both Airtel and MTN come as telecom operators struggle to balance increasing operational costs with the need to maintain service quality and support long-term infrastructure development. While the revised tariffs are designed to support ongoing service improvements, they are expected to increase financial pressure on consumers, many of whom are already grappling with the broader economic challenges in the country.
For Airtel customers, the company assures that its services remain “fast, affordable, and reliable,” offering various plans to meet diverse data usage needs. To access the new plans, users can dial *312# for further details and activation.
With communication costs on the rise, Nigerian telecom consumers will need to adapt to the changes, while operators continue to navigate a challenging economic environment.
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