The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued a directive to telecommunications operators to simplify their tariff plans, bundles, and promotional activities.
The aim is to provide subscribers with clear, easy-to-understand, and accurate information regarding the cost of voice, short messaging service (SMS), and data services.
This directive, contained in a document titled “Guidance on the Simplification of Tariffs in the Nigerian Communications Sector,” was issued on July 29, 2024.
In a statement released on Monday, Reuben Muoka, the NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, outlined the new requirements for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).
The operators are now required to publish a comprehensive table detailing the features of their tariff plans and bundle offers.
This table should include essential information to help subscribers make informed decisions, such as the specifics of add-ons, pricing, how to opt-in or out, renewal terms, and rollover policies.
“The objectives of the simplification guidelines are to reduce the complexity of tariff plans and bundles, ensure transparency and fairness in promotional elements, protect consumers’ interests by providing clear and understandable tariff information, and promote fair competition among licensees by standardising tariff structures,” the statement read.
The guidelines emerged from extensive consultations with industry stakeholders, including MNOs and Consumer Focus Groups, and an in-depth analysis of consumer preferences and expectations.
According to the NCC, this initiative seeks to ensure that consumers are not overwhelmed by complex and confusing tariff information, enabling them to make better choices.
Key Provisions of the Directive:
- Service providers must display all relevant tariff information, including plan names, prices, validity periods, price-per-second for on and off-network as well as international calls, expected data speeds, and fair usage policies.
- MNOs are required to continue existing bonus-led tariff plans until December 31, 2024. During this period, they must educate and migrate all subscribers to the simplified tariff plans.
- Operators must communicate tariffs to subscribers in clear language and a user-friendly format. Full disclosure of a subscriber’s tariff plan is to be provided via Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD).
- Stand-alone data bundles must be offered at fair prices to avoid tying consumers to products they do not need. Additionally, bonuses on promotions must be stated in actual value, and operators are required to eliminate access fees and asymmetric fee structures.
The NCC emphasized that while adhering to these new guidelines, operators must also meet the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) standards as set out in the Quality of Service (QoS) Regulations.
