The Nigerian Communications Fee (NCC) has requested telecommunication corporations (Telcos) to simplify their tariff plans, bundles, and promotional actions.
The regulator needs the telcos to unbundle promos from regular tariff plans to enhance transparency with tariff plans.
Based on the NCC, the transfer goals to offer subscribers with clear, easy-to-understand, and correct details about the price of voice, quick messaging service (SMS), and knowledge companies.
This was contained within the directive titled, “Steerage on the Simplification of Tariffs within the Nigerian Communications Sector”.
The regulator mentioned, “All promotional parts are to be faraway from tariff plans and provided as standalone promotions, topic to the Fee’s prior approval, cut-off dates, QoS/capability necessities, adherence to full disclosure necessities, and in accordance with set situations.”
It additionally mandated Cell Community Operators (MNOs) to publish a complete desk exhibiting the options of their tariff plans and bundle provides.
Commenting on the rationale for the directive, the fee defined that it was “to cut back the complexity of tariff plans and bundles, guarantee transparency and equity of promotional parts of tariff plans, shield shoppers’ pursuits by offering clear and comprehensible tariff info in order that they make knowledgeable choices, and promote truthful competitors amongst licensees by standardising tariff constructions.”
The regulator additional famous that telcos can nonetheless keep current bonus-led tariff plans till 31 December 2024. Throughout that interval, they’re anticipated to coach and migrate all subscribers to the simplified tariff plans.
Service suppliers have been additionally required to show all related details about their tariffs, such because the plan title, value, validity interval, price-per-second for on—or off-network and worldwide calls, anticipated knowledge speeds, and truthful utilization insurance policies.
The rules additional directed MNOs to speak tariffs to subscribers in “clear language and a user-friendly format,” with full disclosure of a subscriber’s tariff plan by way of Unstructured Supplementary Service Knowledge (USSD).
The NCC added, “Operators should supply stand-alone knowledge bundles at truthful costs to keep away from tying shoppers with merchandise they don’t want; bonuses on promotions should be said in precise worth; entry charges and uneven price constructions should be eradicated,” amongst different situations.
The fee emphasised that operators should adjust to these pointers and meet the Key Efficiency Indicators (KPIs) requirements set out in its High quality of Service (QoS) Rules whereas additionally assembly the KPIs.
