Telecommunications operators in Nigeria have stated that they are working to improve service quality ahead of the three-month deadline set by the Nigerian Communications Commission.
During a forum of telecom CEOs and the media discussing the recently approved 50% tariff increase, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, Mr. Tobe Okigbo, confirmed that operators have already started ordering new equipment to enhance capacity.
“From NCC’s estimation, they expect that in three months, we should be seeing an uplift in service quality, but we will try to make it shorter because the truth is that the better the quality, the more money you spend, and the better for us.
“The mistake people make is that sometimes people think that telecommunication companies benefit from more quality. Every time you drop a call, we lose money; every time you’re unable to browse, we lose money,” Okigbo stated.
Beyond the cost issue addressed by the tariff increase, Okigbo pointed out that several other factors also impact the quality of service in the telecom sector.
According to him, one of the key issues is the persistent fibre cuts and vandalism of telecom equipment.
He revealed that during the last intervention meeting with the government, MTN’s CTO reported an average of 37 fibre cuts daily, while Airtel’s CTO disclosed that the company experiences around 44 fibre cuts daily.
Also speaking at the forum, jointly organized by MTN, Airtel, and 9mobile, the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, stated that while operators would strive to improve service quality, external factors would also play a significant role in determining the impact.
According to him, efforts will be made to ensure that Nigerians begin to see improvements within the three-month timeline.
“But if the extraneous factors are not resolved, I am sorry to say, we’ll have another conversation in three months.
“If the frequency of fibre cuts continues, if people continue to steal batteries from base stations; if people continue to steal diesel from the sites, I think in three months we’ll have a different conversation,” he said.
In seeking subscribers’ understanding of the recently approved 50% tariff increase, Adebayo emphasized that the hike was crucial for the economy, as the telecom industry’s sustainability was under significant threat.
He assured subscribers that the new tariff regime would lead to improved services, clearer pricing, and greater support for the economy.
He explained that the factors influencing the recent tariff review included the rising cost of diesel, among other considerations.
