Airtel Nigeria, the country’s second-largest telecommunications company, has made notable changes to its data pricing structure.
A check by the News Agency of Nigeria using the *312# code and on Airtel’s website revealed the updated data prices.
The company explained that the adjustments, which affect various data bundles, were made to help manage the impact of rising operational costs amid a difficult economic environment.
The new data plans published on its website include daily plans such as: N50 for 40MB (valid for 1 day), N100 for 100MB (valid for 1 day), N200 for 200MB (valid for 3 days), and N350 for 1GB (valid for 1 day).
The weekly plans now include N350 for 350MB (valid for 7 days), N500 for 750MB plus 1GB YouTube Night and 200MB YouTube Music/Spotify (valid for 7 days), N500 for 1GB plus 1GB YouTube Night and 50MB Socials (valid for 7 days), and N500 for 2GB (valid for 2 days).
For monthly plans, changes include 3GB for N2,000 (previously 1.5GB at N1,200), 4GB for N2,500 (formerly 3GB at N1,500), and 8GB for N3,000 (previously 4.5GB at N2,000). Other new monthly options are 10GB for N4,000 (formerly 6GB at N2,500), 13GB for N5,000 (from 10GB at N3,000), 18GB for N6,000 (formerly 15GB at N4,000), and 25GB for N8,000 (replacing 18GB at N5,000).
Additionally, Airtel increased its call rates to 25 kobo per second from the previous 18 kobo per second. However, some plans remain unchanged, such as the 5GB/week for N1,500.
This move comes shortly after MTN Nigeria raised its tariffs by approximately 50 percent last week to address rising operational costs.
Subscribers have expressed dissatisfaction with the new pricing on social media. One user, Okikiola (@okikiola_Ayoade), lamented the reduction in data bundles, while another, Jessy Paul (@Firstjessy), questioned the company’s decision to end its previous data offers, considering it a key reason for using Airtel.
A third user, ShadeFX D BoiCrypt (@ShadeFx__), criticized the company for increasing prices amidst financial struggles, calling it unfair and “evil.”
In response to the complaints, Airtel posted an apology on its X page, acknowledging the inconvenience caused by the price hikes.
The company assured customers that comprehensive revisions had been made across its voice and data plans.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had approved a maximum 50 percent tariff increase, citing the need to support the sustainability of the telecommunications industry.
This decision followed consultations with various stakeholders and was made in accordance with Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 (NCA).
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