Phone users may pay less for SMS

Telephone subscribers may start paying as low as between N1.00 and N5.00 for Short Messages across all networks.


This is as a result of the effort the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) kick-started on Tuesday at a one-day consultative forum on reduction of Short Messaging Service, held at the Golden Gate Restaurant, in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The forum which brought together operators, consumer groups and the regulator, was aimed, not just at achieving reduced SMS tariffs, but also at giving all stakeholders fair hearing regarding GSM operation in the country.It was canvassed that a reasonable SMS tariff regime in the country would increase the utilization of SMS platform as a means of communication by consumers and thus ease congestion on operators’ networks.

The meeting came on the heels of complaints that have besieged the Commission over the high cost SMS, explained Director Consumer Affair, Mrs Lolia Emakpore.

She said the importance of SMS can not be underestimated as it has become an alternative platform to voice as it is used for business and personal communications.

Emakpore noted that banks use the platform in relating information to their consumers, sending money across branches or from person to person.

The Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO of the commission, Mr Ernest Ndukwe, said it had become pertinent to look into how more economically viable this platform can be for the 53 million connected subscribers, as "recent findings and feed back have shown increased concern of SMS tariff across networks, thus leading to calls for tariff reduction.

"It is often submitted that SMS current tariff regime is too high and therefore, this consultative forum is to raise a downward regime of SMS tariff."

Presently, on the GSM networks, SMS charges whether on-net or off-net, ranges between N5.00 and N15.00, while Private Telecoms Operators (PTOs), charge same depending on the destination, but, these are not the highest in the West African sub-region.

NCC thus sought to place a price cap on SMS to encourage SMS usage, a platform Ndukwe said, which uses an insignificant measure of the system capacity.

"Commission’s desire is that SMS rates are reasonable and attractive, especially for young people to at least have a fairly cost effective means of communication; operators should see this as a way of giving back to their consumers," said Ndukwe.

However, there is a snag in the clamour which may not make the desire to materialise immediately. This is the present interconnect rate for SMS which stands at N5.00.

Operators reckon that if the regulator wants the reduced SMS tariff regime as soon as possible, then, it should review the interconnect rate and put a cap on the time frame.

As submitted by the representative of Multi-Links Telkom and without objection from any the operators, the time to make the new SMS regime effective, is dependent on the Commission, especially on how soon it is able to review the subsisting regime and then, make the new regime binding within the specified period.

Ndukwe who also decried cheaper SMS cost on post-paid packages, said it is unfaur to charge subscribers who pay in advance more than those who pay in arrears. He explained that because the post-paid subscribers pay after using the service, they can be likened to borrowing money which often attracts interest, so, they should rather be the ones to be charged more if at all any segment of the consumers should be charged more.

His words: "worldwide, post-paid tariff is higher; any money which is not paid immediately, is like a loan and has a kind of interest on it. So, it should be lowered for pre-paid subscribers and that is how it is across the concept. No justification why pre-paid subscribers should have higher tariffs than the post—paid; the pre-paid subscribers are the ones with significant volume so, their needs should be addressed.

Any link?

yes, there is a like!
Here http://thenationonlineng.com/dynamicpage.asp?id=59001

Good Idea!

real good idea, esp glo.their txt is N15 nthng more nthng less.,remain make them use gun robb us

this is good -hope to see it soon

i hope MTN,Zain,Glo and the rest Hear NCC, They shouldnt just say yes on paper they should say the yes to affect us the subscribers

MAN THAT WOULD BE GREAT. CAUSE I'VE GOT LOADS OF MSGS TO SEND TO MY LOVE ONES
PLEASE DONT BE JEALOUSE

Zain has started it with their thru package. for 3 naira per SMS. While MTN came with send one and get one free Which now translate to #2.50 per SMS

Any body using Glo should tell us how much they now charge for their SMS. But i know say them still they rob us with their 15naira per SMS.