Airtel Nigeria, one of the country’s leading telecommunications providers, has announced a significant hike in its data prices, triggering widespread outrage among subscribers. The price adjustment, reflected on the company’s website and confirmed via the *312# code, comes as the telco grapples with rising operational costs and a harsh economic landscape.
Sharp Increase Across Data Plans
According to Airtel’s latest tariff revision, several data bundles have been affected. Daily plans now cost:
N50 for 40MB (valid for one day)
N100 for 100MB (one day)
N200 for 200MB (three days)
N350 for 1GB (one day)
Weekly plans have also seen an upward review:
N350 for 350MB (seven days)
N500 for 750MB + 1GB YouTube Night + 200MB YouTube Music/Spotify (seven days)
N500 for 1GB + 1GB YouTube Night + 50MB Socials (seven days)
N500 for 2GB (two days)
For monthly data plans, the increases are even more significant:
3GB for N2,000 (formerly 1.5GB at N1,200)
4GB for N2,500 (formerly 3GB at N1,500)
8GB for N3,000 (formerly 4.5GB at N2,000)
10GB for N4,000 (formerly 6GB at N2,500)
13GB for N5,000 (formerly 10GB at N3,000)
18GB for N6,000 (formerly 15GB at N4,000)
25GB for N8,000 (formerly 18GB at N5,000)
Additionally, call rates have jumped from 18 kobo per second to 25 kobo per second, further compounding customers’ frustrations.
Subscribers Lament ‘Unfair’ Price Hike
The announcement has triggered a wave of anger, with many Nigerians taking to social media to vent their frustrations.
A subscriber, Okikiola (@okikiola_Ayoade), lamented:
“Return our data bundles back! It’s not easy to make money, yet you keep making things difficult for us. Data that used to cost N3,000 for 20GB is now N3,000 for just 10GB! Why are we suffering for what we pay for?”
Another user, Jessy Paul (@Firstjessy), blasted Airtel for scrapping previous data offers, saying:
“Can you change it back to what it used to be, or should I break my Airtel SIM and switch to another network?”
Similarly, ShadeFX D BoiCrypt (@ShadeFx__) decried the move as inconsiderate:
“Life is already hard, and you just made it worse. Why increase data plans and then deplete them so fast? What did we do wrong by choosing your network? Are you happy now? This is evil.”
Amid the backlash, Airtel Nigeria issued an apology on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, stating:
“We understand your concerns and wish to inform you that comprehensive revisions have been made across our voice and data plans.”
However, the explanation did little to appease subscribers, many of whom are now considering switching to alternative networks.
Airtel’s tariff adjustment follows a similar move by MTN Nigeria, which recently increased its prices by nearly 50% to cope with rising operational costs. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had earlier approved a maximum tariff increment of 50% for telecom operators, citing sustainability concerns.
The NCC, in a statement, defended the decision, referencing Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, and stating that it consulted with stakeholders before approving the changes.
Despite this, public discontent remains high. Reports indicate that MTN’s 15GB data plan surged from N2,000 to N6,000, while the 1.5TB plan jumped from N150,000 to N240,000. Other bundles, including the 100GB and 600GB packages, also saw sharp increases, igniting further frustration among subscribers.
As Nigerians grapple with these steep price hikes, many are calling for urgent intervention by the federal government and consumer protection agencies to regulate telecom tariffs. With inflation already at a record high and the cost of living skyrocketing, the added burden of costly data and call rates could further strain households and businesses.
For now, it remains to be seen whether Airtel and other telecom providers will reconsider their pricing strategies or if subscribers will be forced to endure the new reality of higher costs for digital connectivity.
PIONEER NEWS 