Leading telecom operator MTN Nigeria finds itself at the receiving end of social media backlash following another increase in one of its data plans. Subscribers, who are still grappling with the rising cost of living, have expressed their displeasure after seeing an unannounced change in a weekly subscription.
In a new development verified by Technext, the 5GB weekly plan that used to cost N1,500 has suddenly been increased by 66.67 per cent to N2,500. However, the new price is now in exchange for 6GB, a 20 per cent increase in volume that is hardly commensurate with the increase in price.
The increase has since sparked outrage on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), with subscribers expressing their dissatisfaction with the frequent change in data pricing.
An X user, @AOluwatomi60408, expressed that “I do that 5gb for 1500 until yesterday and I immediately become a financial expert”. Another user also lamented saying, “MTN first removed 2k for 15gb, now they’ve also removed the 1500 for 5gb, how are people surviving?”
@mogsteady expressed that “MTN is a very useless company. The 5Gb weekly plan person dey manage dem don increase the price again. I don borrow 5k airtime. Once e finish I go dumb the sim.”
A user @Grachidex, who is a student, also lend reacted: “Mtn please nah, make data plan that is student friendly at least.”
In addition to the hike, it was also confirmed that the network provider has removed the N2,000 for the 15GB weekly plan. To this end, subscribers lamented the consequence of this action amid the race for survival under the realities of the harsh economic conditions.
@imienfan_ng reacted, saying, “They removed 2k for 13 GB too, then removed 1.5k for 5 GB. MTN hate us atp”.
@Timothyabidemi expressed his dissatisfaction at the disappearance: “As I was about to activate another 2k for 13GB, I noticed that MTN has removed the plan. MTN you will crumble and never know peace.”
In the new round of updates, the new MTN Nigeria weekly data plans are:
- N500 for 500MB
- N800 for 1GB
- N3,500 for 11GB
- N1,000 for 1.5GB
- N2,500 for 6GB
For monthly:
- N1,500 for 2GB
- N2,000 for 2.7GB
- N2,500 for 3.5Gb
- N3,500 for 7GB
- N6,500 for 16.5GB
- N9,000 for 25GB
- N18,000 for 75GB
- N35,000 for 165GB
- N55,000 for 250GB
See Also: Does MTN zap your data indiscriminately? Here is what we found.
MTN Nigeria’s backlog of unannounced increase
MTN Nigeria not making an official statement on the change in data pricing further underscores a model where telecom operators increase calls and data rates without an official announcement, thereby leaving subscribers to find ways to adapt to the situation.
Following the 50% tariff increase approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in January, MTN Nigeria increased the prices of several internet plans unannounced. The price adjustments, which took effect on February 10, sparked widespread concern among subscribers.
Later on, the telecom giant confirmed the price changes in response to a customer inquiry on X stating: “Y’ello! Thanks for stopping by, We apologise for any inconvenience and delayed response. A price increase has been implemented to enhance our services and serve you better, which is why you are seeing the updated amount.” Then, it described the hike as a “cast” and urged customers to “forgive and forget” in the spirit of the love season, referencing the St. Valentine’s season.
After continued outrage from customers, MTN Nigeria reversed the hike on its 15GB data plan following significant reactions and a direct threat of action from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Reacting swiftly to the mounting pressure, MTN Nigeria took to its official X account to apologise for the tariff increase, admitting it was a “mistake.” The company, which used a colloquial tone to acknowledge the public’s frustration, said, “To our 15G digital bundle lovers, you dey vex. We know. We know how upsetting it must have been to suddenly wake up to a 200 percent increase on your favourite digital bundle.”
Meanwhile, the veracity of the reversal is still under question considering the recent rise in data plans and the company’s continuous display of unannounced tariff increases.
Data depletion claims
On another allegation, MTN Nigeria customers have also been lamenting over their rapidly depleting voice and data bundles. They call out the telecom giant about how they’ve been experiencing unexplained depletion in their voice and data subscriptions.
Subscribers who expressed their dissatisfaction on the social media platform alleged that the amount of data usage when compared to their total data subscription is not adding up.
A customer, @TheSerahIbrahim, who claimed to have been experiencing this discrepancy since December, noted that the data runs out quickly and disappears.
“MTN is saying I’m out of data in 6 days, exhausting my monthly data that normally rolls over, but now exhausts in 6 days doing absolutely nothing but X. Here’s the crazy part, my phone is reading that I only used one app more which is X, and it’s 8gb used by X in 6 days, and a 57% total data used on my phone in 6 days, so the rest of the 43% data just disappeared,” the user added.
Responding to the allegations via a reply, MTN Nigeria apologized for the data depletion, explaining that data is depleted based on a variety of factors, ranging from device type to network mode selected and the volume of Internet usage.
“Yello! Apologies for the data depletion complaint and for not replying sooner. Please be informed that MTN network data is offered as is; customers are charged on their data bundle based on the internet activities on their lines,” MTN Nigeria said in one of its replies.
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