“Return our data bundles”: Airtel Nigeria faces backlash over tariff hike
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Airtel Nigeria, the country’s second-largest telecom provider, has revised its data pricing structure, citing rising operational costs as the primary reason.
The adjustments, observed through the *312# shortcode and the company’s website, affect various data bundles across daily, weekly, and monthly plans, according to NAN.
The updated rates include daily plans such as N50 for 40MB and N350 for 1GB, while weekly plans range from N350 for 350MB to N500 for 2GB.
Monthly subscribers now face significant hikes, with 3GB costing N2,000 (previously 1.5GB at N1,200) and 25GB now priced at N8,000 (up from 18GB at N5,000).
Additionally, Airtel’s call rates have increased from 18 kobo per second to 25 kobo. However, some tariff plans, like the 5GB weekly plan for N1,500, remain unchanged.
This move follows MTN Nigeria’s recent 50% tariff hike, implemented to offset increasing operational costs. In response, Airtel subscribers have taken to X (formerly Twitter) to express frustration. Okikiola (@okikiola_Ayoade) lamented, “Return our data bundles back… data from 3000 for 20GB is now 3000 for 10GB. Why are we suffering for what we are paying for?” Similarly, Jessy Paul (@Firstjessy) threatened to switch networks, while ShadeFX D BoiCrypt (@ShadeFx__) criticized the hikes, calling them “heartless.”
Airtel apologized for the inconvenience, stating that “comprehensive revisions” had been implemented.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Communications Commission justified the tariff increase, approving a maximum 50% adjustment to sustain the industry amid rising costs.
