Airtel Nigeria, the country's second-largest telecom operator, has raised the prices of its internet and voice plans by 50%, just a week after MTN Nigeria implemented a similar hike. This move is part of a broader trend of telcos reviewing prices following the Nigerian Communications Commission's (NCC) approval of a 50% tariff increase on January 20, 2025.

The new pricing structure sees Airtel's cheapest monthly data plan now offering 2GB for ₦1,500, replacing the previous 1.2GB plan that cost ₦1,000. Other changes include 3GB for ₦2,000 (up from 1.5GB at ₦1,200), 4GB for ₦2,500 (previously 3GB at ₦1,500), and 8GB for ₦3,000 (up from 4.5GB at ₦2,000). Bigger plans have also been adjusted, with 10GB now costing ₦4,000 (previously 6GB at ₦2,500), 13GB for ₦5,000 (up from 10GB at ₦3,000), 18GB for ₦6,000 (previously 15GB at ₦4,000), and 25GB for ₦8,000 (replacing the former 18GB plan at ₦5,000).

In addition to the data plan changes, Airtel Nigeria has also implemented a 25 kobo flat rate per second of calls, according to a company representative. This means that a one-minute call on the network now costs around ₦15, an increase from ₦11. However, the tariff increase was not reflected in many of the daily and weekly plans. Subscribers can still buy the one-week 5GB plan for ₦1,500. The Airtel Unlimited plans, such as ₦20,000 for 200GB in 30 days plus 10GB daily upon exhausting main data, and ₦30,000 for 300GB in 30 days, are still available.

MTN Nigeria, which was the first to implement the increase, faced public backlash after adjusting three of its data plans by more than 50%. The company later issued a letter of apology to its subscribers, stating that its hike did not exceed the NCC-approved target and was merely removing subsidies from its special plans.

The NCC's approval of a 50% tariff increase has sparked a wave of price hikes across the Nigerian telecom industry. As the industry continues to adapt to the new pricing structure, subscribers can expect to see more changes in the coming weeks. The impact of these price increases on consumers and the broader economy remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the Nigerian telecom industry is undergoing a significant transformation.

With Airtel Nigeria's price hike, the question on everyone's mind is: what's next for the industry? Will other telcos follow suit, and how will consumers respond to these changes? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – the Nigerian telecom industry is in for a wild ride.