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  • Photo credit: JC Communicationz

    We are not sure if this is to be categorised as a high or low-quality problem, but some Nigerians might be in for the mother of all modern inconvenience– a telecommunication shutdown. 

    On December 31, just as Nigerians said goodbye to  2024, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) said that they might suspend their services in some regions of the country if the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) does not okay their demand for a tariff increase.

    In a statement signed by ALTON Chairman Gbenga Adebayo, the association said that Nigeria’s telecom industry is hanging by a thread and would need to increase the current tariff as a matter of survival as they currently suffer high energy costs, rising inflation, high cost of operation, unstable exchange rates, and other issues.

    The ALTON chairman emphasised that telecom operators need to, as a matter of survival, raise the tariff to reflect the unfortunate impact of the Nigerian economy on their businesses but have been able to do so due to the NCC’s refusal and have experienced stagnancy as a result.

    Although they were not specific on time and location, ALTON said it’d be cutting telecommunication services in certain regions of the country and at certain times. In the words of its chairman: “If nothing is done, we might begin to see in the new year grim consequences unfolding, such as Service Shedding; operators may not be able to provide services in some areas and at some times of the day leaving millions disconnected…”

    How will a telecommunications shutdown affect you?

    Actually, the question should be, “How will it not affect you?” because a telecommunications shutdown is on the same level (if not worse) as an electricity blackout. If telcos go ahead with their plan to suspend their services in some regions of the country, this means that people in those regions will literally be catapulted back to the Stone Age, as they will only be able to use their devices at certain times of the day. Imagine using your phone only when the rationing allows you to.

    On a larger scale, a suspension of telecom services would be potentially catastrophic for Nigeria, as essential sectors like healthcare, education, security, and commerce would be mad  stranded without those services.

    What does a tariff increase mean for you?

    Telecom operators have explained how the current tariff weighs heavily on their operations, and Nigerians will definitely be singing the same song if the NCC agrees to a tariff increment.

    Currently, the tariff stands at ₦11.00 per minute for voice calls,  ₦4.00 for Short Message Services (SMS), and  ₦1,000 for one GB data bundle. If the tariff increases, customers will be charged  ₦15.40 per minute for voice calls,  ₦5.60 for SMS, and  ₦1,400 for one GB data bundle.

    So, in addition to paying more for almost everything, Nigerians will have to dig into their pockets for extra cash to afford services as essential as telecom services.

    What is the solution to this problem?

    The obvious solution here might seem to be for telecom operators and the NCC to come to an agreement, but according to all that ALTON has said, the only acceptable agreement in their books is a tariff increase, which unfortunately brings us back to the issue of being forced to pay more.

    The only real solution is the not-so-obvious one—an economic turnaround. Nigeria is currently experiencing what has been termed its worst economic crisis on record, and its impact has been felt on just about everything in the country.

    From an increase in the cost of air and road travel to an increase in food prices and more, people in the country have barely caught a break, and neither has its industries. In 2023, following the impact of fuel subsidy removal and bold monetary policies, several companies like  Bolt Food, Procter & Gamble, GlaxoSmithKline (which had operated in the country since 1972), and Jumia Food all left the country for similar reasons. 

    Also, in 2023 alone, about 767 manufacturing companies in Nigeria had to shut down their operations due to the same old culprit– the economic crisis. Now, telecom operators are asking for a tariff review, citing the same issues.

    From all angles, there hardly seems to be a solution or an end in sight to the current telecom threat. As it stands, the NCC might have to finally agree to the tariff hike and Nigerians might have to pay extra for telecom services.

  • In line with its commitment to offer amazing value to Nigerian mobile telephone customers, Nigeria’s leading telecom service provider and youth-friendly brand, 9mobile, has announced the launch of 9Konfam, a tariff plan that rewards customer with generous airtime and data benefits upon SIM activation, and on every recharge. 

    According to the telco, 9Konfam empowers customers to connect and to do more with their airtime and data purchases. 

    “At 9mobile, we are committed to releasing products and services that allow customers to get the most out of their subscriptions. “With 9Konfam, new and existing customers get to enjoy exciting bonuses on their airtime and data recharges,” said Kenechukwu Okonkwo, the Director, Product Innovation & Business Development at 9mobile. 

    With 9Konfam, customers who purchase a new 9mobile SIM card will enjoy N1,000 welcome bonus once they activate the SIM. In addition, they will get 9 times the value of all recharges from N100 and above to call all networks, send text messages, and for data/internet activities., What’s more? Customers on 9konfam will receive double data bonus on their first recharge of the month (for the initial six months of joining the network) so long as they recharge with N200 or higher. Notwithstanding all these listed benefits new customers would continue to enjoy 100% bonus on data bundles that they buy, till they exceed six months on the network.

    “You will agree with me that 9Konfam is loaded with full options”, Okonkwo said. He therefore enjoined all telecom subscribers to get a 9mobile SIM and be “confirmed” with 9konfam.

    To subscribe to 9konfam and enjoy these exciting bonuses, simply activate a new 9mobile SIM or dial *1400# from an existing 9mobile SIM.

    Is your line barred? Reconnect now with ease!

  • Services in Nigeria are designed to frustrate you, from the banking to the transportation services and even the telecommunications services.

    Where do I even start from? Is it the drop calls, or the numerous unsolicited messages that pop up at that time you’re waiting for a bank alert? What of the shenanigans of slow and retarded network that can only function at a particular spot in your house even though a mast is so nearby?

    There’s so much to complain about but here are seven things that top the list:

    1) How data is supposed to last for a month-but doesn’t

    This is the king of all lies that we’ve been sold. No matter the data bundle you buy, on whatever network, it is just never enough. If you buy monthly data, prepare yourself for a resubscription within two weeks. Yeah, I don’t know how they do it too.

    So baffled

    2) The promo’s that we are not sure anyone actually wins

    So, you hear that someone will be rewarded with a car, house, a trip to Dubai and more, if they are loyal customers. But, do people actually win those things? Forget those photo ops we see abeg, I won’t believe it until I win a prize myself.

    3) The extra credit/data that is supposed to last a week (or more) but disappears the first time you use it

    These bonuses by Nigerian telcos have mastered the vanishing act. You will receive a message that you’ve been gifted with extra talk time or data for a few weeks, only to have it go to zero balance the first time you use it.

    Well, I wasn’t expecting anything, so it’s all good.

    4) How they tell you its your fault that something went wrong with network

    Remember those drop calls I mentioned? Yeah, this and text messages that remain unsent for days are some of the reasons people call customer care, only for them to hear; “But everything is alright from our end. Are you sure you hit send?”

    5) How they make you buy airtime/data multiple times because of “network failure”

    Somehow, this happens when you want to recharge through your bank app. If it didn’t work the first time, please don’t do it again. At least wait for 24 hours before you attempt to recharge again, this will give you peace of mind.

    6) Customer care agents who leave you hanging with a promise to resolve complaints by calling/texting you back within a day

    This is a lie from the pit of hell. They will not call you. I repeat, they will not call you. In fact, you will be cut off while you are speaking with one and then the other agent you dialed within seconds of blind rage will do the same thing. Until you give up and break your SIM card.

    7) How each telco promises to be better than the other

    They deceived you to port over to their services until you realize you just roped yourself into something much worse. There’s no good anywhere, just manage your bad network like that because they are all the same.