BREAKING: NCC Orders Suspension of Planned Data Tariff Hike

Posted by African Examiner Business News, Featured, IT & Telecoms, Latest Headlines Wednesday, November 30th, 2016

By Ayo Balogun

BALTIMORE, MD (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Barely 24 hours after the mobile telecommunication service providers announced 100 per cent data tariff hike, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has ordered the suspension of the plan.

It would be recalled that one of the GSM providers MTN sent SMS to its subscribers Tuesday that 100 per cent data tariff hike would commence Thursday, December 1, 2016.

NCC Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo in a statement confirmed: “The decision to suspend this directive was taken after due consultation with industry stakeholders and the general complaints by Consumers across the country’’.

“The commission has weighed all of this and consequently asked all operators to maintain the status quo until the conclusion of study to determine retail prices for broadband and data services in Nigeria,’’ Mr. Ojobo added.

The tariff hike since Tuesday has attracted wide condemantaion from Nigerians, who complained that the move amounted to exploitation of Nigerians, who are already stressed due to the effects of the prevailing economic recession, as well as a way of checking the traffic on the social media.