News Investigators/ The Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) on Thursday lauded the Federal Government’s decision to hike call and data tariffs, as well as invest in the sector’s infrastructure.
The President, ATCON, Tony Emoekpere, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that though the increase was long overdue, it was, however, welcome and a work in progress.
Mr Emoekpere said that, just as earlier advised, the tariff hike should be in the first quarter of the year, so that the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) could start planning.
NAN reports that the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) is a professional, non-profit, non-political umbrella organisation of telecommunications companies in Nigeria.
It also reports that the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Wednesday that telecoms tariffs would increase but not by 100 per cent, as suggested by the operators.
Rising from the stakeholders’ meeting with the operators (MNOs), Tijani said that consultations and engagements are ongoing on the issue.
The minister also said that the Federal Government would no longer leave investments on infrastructure in the sector to private companies alone.
Mr Emoekpere said that, though, the decision to hike tariff was a little late in coming, given the fact that tariff had remained stagnant for years, 100 percent tariff increase was also not too big a consideration.
“Like I said, the issue is a work in progress. Although it’s still a bit late considering how many years the tariff has remained stagnant, 100 per cent hike will not be a big leap.
“However, if the federal government’s decision had been delayed longer than this, 100 per cent tariff hike would have been a lot worse.
“We (Telcos) will have to see what’s best. We have to look at how well to do this work in development,” the ATCON president said.
Mr Emoekpere added that the federal government’s intention to also invest in telecommunications infrastructure was standard practice, as it was done in other climes.
“Telecommunications is actually a critical national infrastructure, and it is always important that the government have a say in telecommunications infrastructure.
“In other countries, the government still invests in infrastructure, It is also a welcome development.
“This will boost the operations of the sector, because if the government has vested interest in the sector, it will ensure that the infrastructure is actively protected,’’ he said.
According to Emoekpere, vandalising of telecoms infrastructure in the country has been successful over the years, because the infrastructure was not being actively protected.
He noted that with government’s involvement, he believed that vandalisation would reduce to the barest minimum.
NAN
