June 16, (THEWILL) — The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in collaboration with consulting firm KPMG, has commenced a comprehensive review of telecommunications interconnection pricing, marking the sector’s first major tariff reassessment in almost eight years.
The exercise, launched at a Mobile Termination Rate (MTR) stakeholder forum in Lagos on Tuesday, brings together regulators, telecom operators and other industry stakeholders to evaluate wholesale pricing rules governing payments between networks for completing voice calls.
Mobile Termination Rates are the regulated fees operators pay one another to terminate calls across different networks.
The rates play a critical role in shaping competition, investment decisions and consumer pricing within the telecom industry.
According to the NCC, the existing framework, introduced in 2018 and last adjusted in 2022, no longer reflects the realities of a rapidly evolving market.
The commission cited the rollout of 5G technology, the rise of data-driven services, the emergence of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), and worsening macroeconomic conditions such as inflation and currency depreciation as key factors necessitating the review.
Speaking at the forum, NCC’s Head of Competition and Tariff Unit, Omotayo Mohammed, said the exercise extends beyond a routine tariff review and is aimed at ensuring regulation keeps pace with industry transformation.
“For regulation to remain effective in a fast-moving market, our frameworks must evolve in step with it,” Mohammed said, noting that the review is being conducted under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 to ensure tariffs remain cost-reflective, transparent and non-discriminatory.
KPMG said the study will combine industry data, stakeholder consultations and international benchmarking to develop recommendations for a revised pricing framework.
The review will assess wholesale and retail pricing practices, sustainability of existing tariffs, investment capacity, service quality and consumer affordability.
The NCC will require operators to submit detailed financial and operational data, while benchmarking Nigeria’s framework against peer markets including South Africa, Kenya, Indonesia and Malaysia. Findings from the exercise are expected to guide a more competitive and investment-friendly telecom pricing regime.
Ogochukwu Onwaeze is a writer specializing in business and economic journalism. At THEWILL News Media, she translates market trends, financial developments, and policy shifts into clear and engaging stories.
