The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recently retracted its earlier statement regarding Starlink’s subscription price hike, following confusion around the issue.
This development came shortly after Reuben Muoka, the director of public affairs at NCC, expressed the commission’s “surprise” at the company’s announcement of the price changes.
“The action of the company appears to be a contravention of Sections 108 and 111 of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, and Starlink’s Licence Conditions regarding tariffs.
The Commission will, therefore, take appropriate enforcement measures against any action by a licensee that is capable of eroding the regulatory stability of the telecommunications industry.”
However, in a subsequent statement, Muoka urged media outlets to retract the commission’s previous announcement on the matter. “I wish to request that all who have received this press statement should ignore, as it was issued in error,” he stated. “Kindly withdraw it if it has been posted on your platforms.”
Telecommunications stakeholders have been advocating for an upward tariff review to attract more investors to the sector.
On April 25, telecom companies noted that their services were overdue for price increases, having not raised rates in the past 11 years.
While Muoka acknowledged that Starlink had submitted a request to the NCC for a price adjustment, he clarified that the regulator had not yet approved it. “We were surprised that the company jumped the gun by announcing price changes after filing a request to the Commission seeking approval for price adjustment for which the Commission was yet to communicate a decision,” the NCC had previously stated.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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