Improve transparency on call, data charges – NCC orders telcos

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has issued new guidance requiring telecommunication operators to provide clear and detailed information to subscribers about how they are being charged for calls and data usage.

This is contained in a statement by the NCC Director, Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, on Monday in Abuja.

Muoka said the directive, titled ‘Guidance for the Simplification of Tariffs,’ aims to improve transparency, enhance consumer understanding, and promote fair competition among telecom service providers.

He added that the NCC’s guidance, effective from July 29, 2024, also directs that telecom operators fully disclose all tariff components and conditions.

According to him, the guideline is the outcome of consultations with industry stakeholders, including Mobile Network Operators, MNOs, and Consumer Focus Groups, and extensive data analysis on consumer preferences and expectations.

NCC Director said that the objectives of the simplification guidelines are to reduce the complexity of tariff plans and bundles, ensure transparency and fairness of promotional elements of tariff plans, protect consumers’ interests by providing clear and understandable tariff information so that they make informed decisions, and promote fair competition among licensees by standardizing tariff structures.

Mouka further said that service providers are also required to display all relevant information about their tariffs, such as the name of the plan, 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.