Updated: Senate Blasts NCC, Orders It to Stop Planned Data Tariff Hike Immediately

The Senate has said the decision by the NCC to hike data tariff in Nigeria is the height of irresponsibility.

 

The Senate on Wednesday ordered the National Communication Commission to stop its planned data tariff hike as it called the decision the height of irresponsibility by the agency.

 

This was the decision taken at plenary today by the lawmakers after Deputy Senate Leader Ibn N'Allah raised a motion on the increase in data tariffs by the telecomms over policies of the NCC.

 

While condemning the decision in totality, the Senate President Bukola Saraki, resolved to halt the new tarrif approval by NCC and ordered its Committtee on Communications to carry out an investigation into the proposed plan in order to "protect the people that brought us here this is the height of irresponsibility by NCC".

Saraki added that "at this time without any consultation from the statistics, it is almost four times the price." 

 

He said that the committee should also investigate the allegations of failure of the service providers so as not drag Nigerians into more suffering.

 

It would be recalled that the NCC had directed mobile operators to initiate a new data tariff regime from December 1, 2016 in what is effectively a price increase. 

 

This was contained in a letter to mobile operators dated November 1, the regulator stated that the interim floor price for data services was 0.90k/MB for big operators, and that “this rate will subsist pending the finalisation of the study on the determination of cost based pricing for retail broadband and data services in Nigeria.

“In order to provide a level playing field for all operators in the industry, small operators and new entrants to acquire market share and operate profitably small operators and new entrants are hereby exempted for the price floor for data services,” it said.

“For the avoidance of doubt a small operator is one that has less than 7.5 percent market share and a new entrant is an operator that has operated less than three years in the market.

“All operators are to ensure that subscribers are not automatically migrated to pay-as-you-go platform.

“Also, note that effective date for the interim price floor is December 1, 2016.” the letter added.

 

 

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How To Survive The Impending Doom Of Data Tariff Hike

As the National Communication Commission's imminent increment of prices of data services draw closer, Nigerians have been coerced into rational usage of internet service.

 

It is no doubt that the country has been in a state of turmoil since the news of a hike in prices of data plans was reported. MTN informed customers via a text message few days ago but other service providers are yet to do so.

 

While there's pretty much nothing we can do about it, we just can't kiss the internet goodbye in this age where the internet is most people's source of livelihood, joy, etc.

 

I came up with the following ways to help everyone of us minimize data usage, reduce cost and still enjoy using the internet. Hope you find them helpful.

 

1. STOP BACKGROUND PROCESSES:

 

Most mobile gadgets in this age and time run applications in the background. This way you get charged and data gets drained. Locate your phone's "Settings" and turn off this option. It will help in these times.

2. TURN OFF AUTO-UPDATES: 

 

Gone are those days when you subscribe for a new data bundle and you're greeted by the icon of Google Play Store in the notifications bar. "55 applications are being updated". What come tomorrow, this will do you more harm than good so turn off the damn feature.

 

3. DOWNLOAD UC BROWSER: 

 

Not trying to promote anything but if you haven't already, please do. It's for your own good. Not only does it load pages swiftly for less, it also has other data-saving features you could make good use of.

 

4. TURN OFF IMAGES: 

 

Turn off images in your browser. Most of the images are either emoticons, logos, bla bla bla anyway. Why waste your hard-earned data on them? I mean, WHO IMAGES EPP?

 

5. USE IN MOBILE MODE: 

 

I know how we all feel cool using our mobile gadgets in "Desktop mode" but you should know that won't do you any good in these times. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Switch to mobile mode before it's too late.

 

6. QUIT INSTAGRAM AND OTHER DATA-UNFRIENDLY SOCIAL NETWORKS: 

 

Maybe it was cool to stare at pictures of instagram models at work but that should stop NOW. Seriously, if we were asked to nominate a social nnetwork that ruins bank accounts by ruthlessly draining data, I'm sure EVERYONE would pick Instagram. Do your bank account a favour bro. But if you must use Instagram, then the next tip might help you.

 

7. TURN OFF INSTAGRAM NOTIFICATIONS:

 

If you're so addicted to Instagram and can't quit, or if you run an online business, then simply turn off ALL notifications from Instagram. This includes "New friend", "Like", "Comment" notifications. You can choose to turn on the ones you feel are important though.E.g. "DM" notifications.

 

8. TURN OFF POST NOTIFICATIONS:

 

Still on Instagram, for those of you who turned on notifications for select followers, you might want to turn them off ASAP. I once turned on post notifications for Instablog9ja and i kid you not, Instablog posts at least 20 times a day. Whose loss?

 

9. QUIT MONITORING CELEBRITIES:

 

Celebrities never stop flaunting their near-perfect lifestyles and the media will keep shoving them down our throats. If you're one of those who sees it as mandatory to click every thread with a celebrity name to it, JUST STOP!!

 

10. TURN OFF DATA:

 

If you have to do this, then please by all means do. Anything at all to conserve your data is a must at a time like this.

 

Written by Qummie on a popular Nigerian online forum.

 

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Why NCC Directed Telecom Companies to Increase Data Tariffs - Official

This is an unofficial explanation about the unprecedented increment in the prices of data services as directed by the Federal Government.

 

 

An official of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has given reason behind the directive to the five big telecoms operators in the country to increase their data tariffs from Thursday, December 1, 2016, according to the DailyTrust.

 

The reason is reportedly in order to allow small operators and new entrants to acquire market share and operate profitably.

 

The NCC official who spoke on condition of anonymity on Monday said the regulator came up with the new data regime after some new entrants into the market complained that there was no way they could break even if they operated on same data regime with the likes of MTN, Glo, Etisalat and Airtel.

 

He said NCC yielded to their pressure when last month it notified the operators of the new rate.

 

Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, on Tuesday urged the Federal Government not to increase the cost of data to avoid further pressure on mobile telephone users.

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Mobile Phone Data Tariffs on All Networks to be Increased from December 1... See All the Details

The hyper-inflationary trend in Nigeria is set to be worsened as the National Communications Commission, NCC, has issued a circular to telecommunication companies to step up data rates in the face of economic crisis.

 

In a letter dated November 1 to mobile operators in the country, the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) has directed the telecommunication companies to initiate a new data tariff regime from December 1, 2016 in what is effectively a price increase.

 

According to the official letter which was seen by TheCable News, the regulator stated that the interim floor price for data services was 0.90k/MB for big operators, and that “this rate will subsist pending the finalisation of the study on the determination of cost based pricing for retail broadband and data services in Nigeria”.

“In order to provide a level playing field for all operators in the industry, small operators and new entrants to acquire market share and operate profitably small operators and new entrants are hereby exempted for the price floor for data services,” it said.

 

“For the avoidance of doubt a small operator is one that has less than 7.5 percent market share and a new entrant is an operator that has operated less than three years in the market.

“All operators are to ensure that subscribers are not automatically migrated to pay-as-you-go platform.

“Also, note that effective date for the interim price floor is December 1, 2016.”

 

Recall that we reported earlier on Monday, that MTN sent messages to its customers stating that there would an increase in its data tariffs on December 1.

 

The message read: “Dear customer, please be informed that from December 1, some MTN data tariffs will be increased to reflect the new rates set by the NCC to operators.”

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