The NCC announced the directive on Thursday.

Any person subscribed to any of the Nigerian GSM networks must not be charged more than N4 for short message service, sms, sent to other networks, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC , said on Thursday.

The NCC set a price cap of N4 per message for all domestic Off-Net Short Messaging Service, SMS, with effect from February 5.
Josephine Amuwa, the Director, Legal and Regulatory Services of the Commission made this known in a statement made available in Lagos.

Ms. Amuwa said that this had been communicated to the operators since January 3, adding that it would, however, not place a price cap on international SMS.

“There was a general recognition that the cost of SMS is too high, especially in view of the interconnection rate of N1.02 for SMS as determined by the Commission in 2009.

“In accordance with the powers conferred on the Commission under Sections 4 and Chapter V11 of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA), 2003, the Commission hereby sets a price cap of N4 for Off-net SMS.

“The new rate shall be implemented within 30 days from the date of the directive,” Ms. Amuwa said.

She said the operators had proposed a price cap ranging between N5 to N10 per message for Off-Net SMS.

The Director said that the Commission would not set a cap for international SMS for now, since interconnect rates for international SMS were outside its control.

According to her, international SMS are terminated through international carrier service providers in various jurisdictions.

She said that the considerations were based on the interest of striking a balance between sustaining operators’ profitability and ensuring consumer satisfaction.

Ms. Amuwa said that the Commission would monitor compliance by operators, adding that failure would result to sanctions provided by Section 111 of the NCA 2003.

NAN

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this is a good and welcome development

Awesome. Now I'll stop avoiding sending SMSes to that chic with the Glo number
But who sends SMSes these days?

Great news, for once NCC is doing more than just collecting fines.

Instead of telling them to reduce their call tariffs,who gives a damn about sms this days

braine: Awesome. But who sends SMSes these days?

I do

Na now dem dey wake up?
After all these bad sharp guys (telcos) don obtain belleful na im dem come dey cut down on prices.
I go vex o.

So the interconnection rate is as low as N1.03k nawa o and we pay as high as N7.00 to N10 this peaple are realy cheating us. Any NCC good step be planning for call charge cap.

I just hope these service providers will make these SMSes to all networks not only to customers in their network

Nice one...

Omg instead of call tarriff ur busy on sms,,,I blame jonathan sha

I dont send text message. I prefer calling.

Great!

This is long overdue, same initiative is expected on internet and voice calls,these network providers are very happy to operate in Nigeria because of porous economic policies of government and indifference to citizens' welfare.

Nice one though but we look anxiously forward to making new regulations for call tarrifs..

[img]http://learnweek.com/?r=trimmy[/img] Thats very good of them [img]http://learnweek.com/?r=agbeniga[/img]

e go bam 0..

NCC should work on data plan & improvement of internet. All these 3G,4G na lie.

haha so hapi,na nw i go show dat grl say am caring..i go full her inbox wit testis sori texts

I go see wetin mtn go do now,all criminals

I go see wetin mtn go do now,all these criminals

NCC why go for SMS,, pls na CALLS wuna suppose takle!!!!

miteolu: NCC should work on data plan & improvement of internet. All these 3G,4G na lie.

Where in the post did they talk about 3G and 4G?

Who iz responsible 4 da regulation of ashaaoww prices,we need there help o coz as at last year
1 round=600
2 round=1100
Express(all night)=5000
but ryt now it has been doubled or even tripled
1 round=1000
2 round=2000
Express(all night)=7500
So we r beging gudluck 2 pls setup a pannel 2 look into da mata

Well done NCC. Hahaha, soon all these bulk sms vendors will start crying; it was cyber cafe operators.

NCC how far with that fine from GSM owners due to bad network? Pls share with us after all na peson wey wia shoe know wia e dey pain am.

Dear NCC pls, I have been charged at each time extra 2 seconds. pls monitor calls and thei charges.

cheers.

Just in time for valentine. But I prefer reduction in call tariffs. Is NCC afraid of these guys (telecoms)?

hydoo: Omg instead of call tarriff ur busy on sms,,,I blame jonathan sha

u are a big fool..blame jona 4 what...i know when ur father dies u wld blame jonathan..ode lasan

Maki dem 5n sometin do wit etisalat, na 50k dey stil dey charge per sec, on dre easy clip tariff. Nd 30k to etisalat

hydoo: Omg instead of call tarriff ur busy on sms,,,I blame jonathan sha

you blame Jonathan Nawa to you ooo

They tried, but they should have done this when millions of nigerians still use the sms feature. Its no news now that more than half the people with smartphones do not call more than twice a day and some do not text at all or do it 1 in a whole month unlike before. Nice move though, I hope they do more, expecially to foriegn companies coming to exploit nigerians like mtn. The right body should also open a case file on Dstv

tomsongz: Who iz responsible 4 da regulation of ashaaoww prices,we need there help o coz as at last year
1 round=600
2 round=1100
Express(all night)=5000
but ryt now it has been doubled or even tripled
1 round=1000
2 round=2000
Express(all night)=7500
So we r beging gudluck 2 pls setup a pannel 2 look into da mata

Maybe they now pay VAT to the ministry of women affairs.