Recently highlighted in Nigeria news, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) reports that Nigeria offers some of the most affordable mobile data rates globally, with an average cost of $0.38 per gigabyte. This positions Nigeria as the cheapest data provider in West Africa and among the lowest in Africa and worldwide. Comparatively, other African countries like South Africa and Ethiopia have higher rates, with the United States averaging $6 per gigabyte.
Despite Nigeria’s competitive data rates, Abuja news reveals that local telecom companies, including MTN Nigeria, face economic challenges such as inflation and currency devaluation. MTN’s CEO, Karl Toriola, discusses the impact of these challenges on the telecom industry in 2024 and supports a modest tariff rise to ensure continued service quality. The Federal Government ensures any increase will be minimal, aiming to sustain growth in Nigeria’s digital economy.
Key takeaways:
- Nigeria offers the lowest mobile data rates in West Africa.
- Economic factors in Nigeria pressure telecom companies to consider rate adjustments.
- Government is balancing affordability and industry growth.
Read more from NAN.
Question: How can Nigeria maintain its competitive data rates while addressing economic challenges within its telecom industry? Share your thoughts!
