2 weeks Ago By Zakariyya Adaramola
By Zakariyya Adaramola Telecom operators have demanded an urgent review of service tariffs to reflect the economic realities of delivering telecom services for industry sustainability. Without this, they said, quality service and its availability could not be guaranteed and the economy would suffer for it. The chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Engr Gbenga Adebayo made the call on the behalf of the all operating companies at an end of the year event of the industry stakeholders in Lagos on Sunday, a statement by ALTON said on Monday.
Adebayo said the sector is currently under siege and tariffs must be reviewed urgently to avoid collapse of the sector. In his speech titled “Before the final call – Telecom – as sector under siege”, the ALTON chairman said the sector needs greater urgency as it is the last days for its survival and if immediate and decisive action is not taken, the hope for a better 2025 would remain just a hope. “This is not a time for further deliberation or delayed decisions.
The survival of the telecom sector demands immediate and bold reform for its sustainability, our tariffs must be reviewed to reflect the economic realities of delivering telecom services at a minimum for industry sustainability. Without this, operators cannot continue to guarantee service availability”, he said. He said there was an urgent and critical call to action for the future of the telecommunication industry.
He said: “As we reflect on the ending of the year 2024, there is a need to issue an urgent and critical call to action for the future of our telecommunications industry. “I must say it again with even greater urgency that we are in the last days for the survival of this sector and if immediate and decisive action is not taken, the hope for a better 2025 will remain just that—a hope.” Adebayo said the challenges the section face are not new, but they have become more acute and more threatening with this passing year.
Rising operational costs, skyrocketing energy cost, the relentless pressure of inflation, volatile exchange rates, amongst others have all placed an unsustainable burden on network operators, he said. Despite these mounting pressures, he said, tariffs have remained stagnant, leaving operators trapped in a financial quagmire. He said the resources needed to maintain, expand, and modernise networks are simply no longer available, adding that without intervention, the future of this sector is at grave risk.
If nothing is done, he said, the sector might begin to see in the new year grim consequences unfolding, such as service shedding. He argued that operators might not be able to provide services in some areas and at some times of the day leaving millions disconnected and there will be significant economic fallout. He said businesses would also suffer from a lack of connectivity, stalling growth and innovation.
He said further: “There will also be National Economic Disruption where Key sectors like security, commerce, healthcare, and education which rely heavily on telecom infrastructure, will face serious disruptions. “As we navigate this near turbulent year for the sector, we are confident that history will judge us right for the role we have played in an attempt to rescue this sector. Stakeholders have stood together to uphold the values and importance of telecommunications in our society.
“However, let me be clear: our work is far from over. It is not enough to have kept the sector afloat; we must now focus on securing its future. The sustainability challenges we face today are not just a passing storm—they are a clarion call for decisive action to ensure that this industry thrives for generations to come.
“Despite the dire warnings, we still believe that a better 2025 is possible—but only if we act now. Let this be the moment when we come together, acknowledge the urgency of the situation, and commit to saving this sector.” Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
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