The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commenced a comprehensive review of telecom interconnection pricing in partnership with KPMG, marking the first major reassessment of the sector’s tariff framework in nearly a decade.

The review was formally launched on Tuesday in Lagos during a Mobile Termination Rate (MTR) stakeholder forum attended by regulators, telecommunications operators and other industry stakeholders.

Mobile Termination Rates are the regulated charges telecom operators pay one another for completing calls across different networks. The rates play a critical role in determining competition, investment decisions and retail pricing within the telecommunications industry.

According to the NCC, the current framework, introduced in 2018 and last adjusted in 2022, no longer reflects prevailing market realities due to significant changes in technology, business models and economic conditions.

The commission noted that the rollout of 5G technology, the rapid expansion of data-driven services and the emergence of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) have transformed Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape. It also cited inflation and currency depreciation as factors that have significantly increased operational costs for service providers.

Speaking at the forum, the Head of Competition and Tariff at the NCC, Omotayo Mohammed, said the exercise goes beyond a routine tariff review and is intended to ensure that regulatory frameworks remain aligned with ongoing developments in the industry.

He explained that the telecommunications market has undergone major changes since the last tariff determination, both in technology deployment and market structure.

“For regulation to remain effective in a fast-moving market, our frameworks must evolve in step with it,” Mohammed said.

He added that the review is being conducted under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 to ensure that telecom tariffs remain cost-reflective, fair and non-discriminatory.

KPMG, which is leading the consultancy component of the review, said the exercise will combine data analysis, stakeholder engagement and international benchmarking to develop recommendations for a revised pricing framework.

KPMG Partner and Head of Tax, Wole Obayomi, stated that the review aims to identify gaps in the current pricing regime and determine whether a structured review cycle should be introduced.

“It is important that we get input from the industry in terms of potential solutions and recommendations to address the shortfalls,” Obayomi said.

As part of the process, the NCC and KPMG will assess pricing practices across wholesale and retail market segments, evaluate emerging telecom services and determine whether they are adequately covered by existing regulations.

The review will also examine the sustainability of current tariff structures, focusing on investment capacity, service quality and consumer affordability.

Telecom operators will be required to submit detailed financial and operational data, including revenue, costs, profitability, market share, capital expenditure, service quality indicators and usage trends spanning several years.

According to KPMG, the information will provide deeper insights into industry performance and help evaluate the long-term impact of existing pricing regulations.

The engagement process will involve consultations with mobile network operators, mobile virtual network operators, international carriers, clearing houses and interconnect exchange providers.

In addition, the NCC and KPMG will benchmark Nigeria’s telecom pricing framework against those of peer markets such as South Africa and Kenya, as well as emerging economies including Indonesia and Malaysia, to identify global best practices and guide future regulatory reforms.

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The Federal High Court Nigeria has ordered telecom operators MTN Nigeria and Airtel Networks Limited to restore airtime and data credit services, paving the way for millions of subscribers to regain access to the widely used borrowing services.

The ruling follows two separate court decisions challenging the suspension of the services earlier in April 2026.

Services Affected by Suspension

The services, including MTN’s XtraTime and Airtel’s data credit offerings, were suspended in mid-April after compliance concerns linked to new digital lending regulations introduced by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

The suspension affected millions of prepaid users, particularly low-income earners, traders, and small business operators who rely on airtime borrowing for daily communication and business transactions.

Court Injunction Against FCCPC Enforcement

In a ruling delivered on April 15, Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos granted an interim injunction restraining the FCCPC from enforcing key provisions of its 2025 digital lending regulations against members of the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPAN).

The court also barred the Commission from imposing sanctions or taking actions that could disrupt telecom service operations under the existing regulatory framework.

Second Ruling Strengthens Telecom Operators

Days later, the Federal High Court in Abuja issued another order in a related case involving Nairtime Holdings Limited and Nairtime Nigeria Limited.

The court restrained MTN Nigeria and Airtel Networks Limited from suspending or restricting access to telecom infrastructure such as USSD codes, SMS systems, short codes, and billing platforms based on FCCPC directives.

It also ruled that operators must comply with contractual notice periods and dispute resolution procedures before taking regulatory action.

Regulatory Conflict Between FCCPC and NCC

At the centre of the dispute is a jurisdictional conflict between regulators.

The FCCPC had expanded its oversight in July 2025 to include digital lending services, classifying airtime and data credit as regulated loan products.

However, industry stakeholders argue that the services fall under the jurisdiction of the Nigerian Communications Commission, since they operate through telecom infrastructure governed by the Nigerian Communications Act.

Industry Reaction and Market Impact

Following regulatory uncertainty and potential sanctions, MTN and Airtel temporarily suspended the services, sparking widespread reactions from subscribers.

While the FCCPC maintained it did not directly order the suspension, telecom operators cited compliance risks as justification for their actions.

Industry group WASPAN has called on regulators to respect court orders and engage in coordinated discussions with the NCC and stakeholders.

Analysts estimate that airtime lending transactions in Nigeria are worth between ₦500 billion and ₦1.2 trillion annually, highlighting their importance in supporting informal economic activity.

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