Airtel Nigeria, the country’s second-largest telecom operator, has announced a 50% increase in the prices of its internet and voice plans, following a similar adjustment by MTN Nigeria just a week earlier.
With the revised pricing, Airtel’s most affordable monthly data plan is now 2GB for ₦1,500, replacing the previous 1.2GB plan that cost ₦1,000. Other adjustments include 3GB for ₦2,000 (previously 1.5GB for ₦1,200), 4GB for ₦2,500 (previously 3GB for ₦1,500), 8GB for ₦3,000 (previously 4.5GB for ₦2,000), 10GB for ₦4,000 (previously 6GB for ₦2,500), 13GB for ₦5,000 (previously 10GB for ₦3,000), 18GB for ₦6,000 (previously 15GB for ₦4,000) and 25GB for ₦8,000 (previously 18GB for ₦5,000).
This adjustment aligns with a broader industry trend, as telecom operators review pricing structures following the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) approval of a 50% tariff increase on January 20, 2025. MTN Nigeria was the first to implement the hike but faced public backlash after increasing some data plans by more than 50%.
In response to customer concerns, MTN clarified that its adjustments were within NCC-approved limits and were aimed at eliminating subsidies on special plans. The company later issued an apology to its subscribers.
Airtel Nigeria has also revised its voice tariffs, implementing a flat rate of 25 kobo per second for calls. This means that a one-minute call now costs approximately ₦15, up from the previous rate of ₦11. However, this increase does not affect many of the daily and weekly call plans, which remains unchanged.
Despite the tariff adjustments, Airtel continues to offer its unlimited data packages. Notable plans include ₦20,000 for 200GB valid for 30 days, with an additional 10GB daily bonus after exhausting the main data and ₦30,000 for 300GB valid for 30 days.
These changes mark a significant shift in Nigeria’s telecom landscape as providers adapt to regulatory adjustments and rising operational costs.
