The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued new guidance requiring telecommunication operators to provide clear and detailed information to subscribers about charges for calls and data usage.
This was announced by Reuben Muoka, NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
Muoka stated that the directive, titled “Guidance for the Simplification of Tariffs,” aims to improve transparency, enhance consumer understanding, and promote fair competition among telecom service providers. Effective from July 29, 2024, the directive mandates that telecom operators fully disclose all tariff components and conditions.
The guideline is the result of consultations with industry stakeholders, including Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Consumer Focus Groups, and extensive data analysis on consumer preferences and expectations.
The objectives of the simplification guidelines include reducing the complexity of tariff plans and bundles, ensuring transparency and fairness of promotional elements, protecting consumer interests by providing clear and understandable tariff information, and promoting fair competition by standardizing tariff structures.
Service providers are required to display all relevant information about their tariffs, including the plan name, price, validity period, price-per-second for on- or off-network and international calls, expected data speeds, and fair usage policies.
“Operators can maintain existing bonus-led tariff plans till 31st December 2024, within which period operators are expected to educate and migrate all subscribers to the simplified tariff plans,” the directive stated.
The directive further mandates that MNOs must communicate tariffs to subscribers in “clear language and a user-friendly format,” with full disclosure of a subscriber’s tariff plan via Unstructured Supplementary Service Data, USSD.
“Operators must offer stand-alone data bundles at fair prices to avoid tying consumers with products they do not need; bonuses on promotions must be stated in actual value; access fees and asymmetric fee structures must be eliminated,” the directive added.