Tag: MTN Nigeria

MTN suspends airtime, data loans services

Aminu Imam
MTN suspends airtime

Telecommunications giant, MTN Nigeria, has attributed the suspension of its airtime and data borrowing services to new regulatory requirements introduced by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, (FCCPC). The company’s Secretary, Uto Ukpanah, disclosed this on Thursday at the Nigerian Exchange Limited, explaining that the decision followed the implementation of new compliance rules under the Digital, Electronic, Online, or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025. According to the company, the regulations introduce a revised licensing and compliance framework for entities offering digital or non-traditional consumer credit services, including airtime lending.…

Read More

MTN apologises to Nigerians over ‘mistakenly’ increasing data price

Aminu Imam
MTN Nigeria apologises

MTN Nigeria has apologised to customers amid outrage over the abrupt 200% increase in the price of its 15 giga-byte (GB) digital bundle plan. The telecommunications giant acknowledged that the hike was a mistake and appealed for forgiveness. In a statement posted on its official Instagram page yesterday, MTN admitted to miscalculating the pricing adjustment, and reassured customers of its commitment to better service in the future. It posted: “To our 15G digital bundle lovers: You dey vex. We know. We know how upsetting it must have been, to suddenly…

Read More

‘Telcos seeking 100% tariff hike’ – MTN CEO, Toriola

Aminu Imam
MTN CEO, Toriola

MTN Nigeria has revealed that telecommunications companies are seeking a 100% tariff increase, but it remains uncertain whether the telecom regulator Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC), will approve the proposal. The disclosure was made by the Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, who made the disclosure during an interview yesterday, said the proposed tariff hike is necessary for the sustainability of the industry, which has been facing significant financial pressures due to rising operational costs. “We’ve put forward requests of approximately 100% tariff increases to regulators. I doubt they’re going…

Read More

MTN, Airtel, 9Mobile to raise prices in 2025 after NCC approval

Aminu Imam
Telecoms tariff

The Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC), has approved a long-awaited telecom tariff hike, ending over a decade of lobbying by major operators like MTN Nigeria, Airtel, and 9Mobile.  New rates for calls, SMS, and internet bundles will take effect in January 2025, with tariffs expected to rise by up to 40%.   Under the revised structure, call charges will increase from ?11 to ?15.40 per minute, SMS costs will rise from ?4 to ?5.60, and a 1GB data bundle will cost at least ?1,400, up from ?1,000.  This marks the end of…

Read More

MTN will shut down in Nigeria without tariff hike’ CEO

Aminu Imam
MTN on tariff hike

MTN Nigeria, the countrys largest telecom operator, ‘has stressed the urgent need for the telecommunications sector to return to profitability to sustain its operations. Chief Executive Officer of MTN, Karl Toriola, made this known on Monday during a tour of MTNs facilities by Fellows of the Media Innovation Programme, in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos. This development follows the telecom operators’ persistent call for tariff increases in response to economic challenges.  The CEO said, There should be no delusion; if the tariff doesnt go up we will shut down, adding that the telco…

Read More

MTN Nigeriaothers get permits to generate electricity

Aminu Imam
MTN to generate electricity

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, (NERC), has issued permits to Golden Penny Power Limited, MTN Communications Nigeria Ltd and others for mini-grid electricity generation. The NERC said it issued nine new off-grid generation licences in the first quarter of 2024 with a gross capacity of 109.69 megawatts and three new trading licences. According to a report by the Commission, Golden Penny Power Ltd got a licence to build six off-grid gas plants in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, and Cross River States. The total capacity is 100MWs. Also, MTN Nigeria was granted…

Read More

MTN says it will restore subscribers debt after system glitch

Aminu Imam

Telecom giant, MTN Nigeria, has said it will restore debt from the accounts of subscribers who had borrowed airtime from it, after technical glitch had resulted in the temporary removal of the debt. According to reports, the glitch had left many subscribers excited. Upon checking their accounts, they discovered that the money they had borrowed had vanished, leaving their balances at zero. The telecom company, which confirmed the situation in a statement yesterday, said customers balance was affected by a system glitch impacting balance enquiries. The firm, however, assured customers of…

Read More

MTN Nigerias users to experience network outage for 7 hours over system upgrade

Aminu Imam

Mobile telecommunications giant, MTN Nigeria, has announced that some customers may experience service downtime for seven hours as it plans to effect a system upgrade tomorrow, Tuesday. The network provider made this announcement in an SMS to subscribers on Sunday. This means 81.21 million telephony subscribers and 64.06 million internet subscribers will experience service downtime on the said date. Recall that MTN had earlier in October made a similar announcement as it undertook a system upgrade on its machines. The CEO, Olutokun Toriola, while explaining the reason behind the network…

Read More

MTN, Airtel get CBNs approval-in-principle to operate payment service banks

Aminu Imam

The Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), has granted approval in principle to MTN and Airtel to operate payment service bank, (PSB), across the country, aimed at further deepening financial inclusion in the country. The apex bank had since communicated the approval to both telecoms operators. Announcing the approval, MTN in an issued statement yesterday, signed by the Companys Secretary, Uto Ukpanah, said: MTN Nigeria Communications Plc (MTN Nigeria) as promoter, received an Approval-in-Principle (AIP) dated 4th November, 2021 from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for a licence application for…

Read More