By Boluwatife Oshadiya| June 17, 2026
Key Points
- NCC launches comprehensive review of mobile termination rates
- Current rates of ₦3.90 and ₦4.70 per minute have remained unchanged since 2018
- KPMG engaged to conduct a four-month industry consultation process
Main Story
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commenced a comprehensive review of Mobile Termination Rates (MTRs), marking the first major reassessment of the framework since the current rates were introduced in 2018.
Speaking during a stakeholder engagement session in Lagos, the NCC’s Head of Competition and Tariff, Mrs. Omotayo Mohammed, said the review had become necessary because existing rates no longer reflect prevailing economic and operational realities within the telecommunications sector.
Mobile Termination Rates are wholesale charges paid by one telecommunications operator to another for completing calls across different networks. The rates currently stand at ₦3.90 per minute for established operators and ₦4.70 per minute for new entrants.
According to the commission, several developments have altered industry cost structures since the last review, including naira depreciation, rising inflation, higher energy costs and the deployment of advanced technologies such as 5G networks, Artificial Intelligence-driven services and Internet of Things applications.
The regulator also noted that increasing adoption of Over-the-Top platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram has significantly changed consumer communication patterns, reducing reliance on traditional voice services.
To support the review, the NCC has appointed KPMG to undertake a four-month consultancy process that will include industry-wide stakeholder engagement and cost modelling.
The exercise will also examine pricing frameworks for USSD services, Application-to-Person (A2P) SMS services, International Termination Rates and Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs).
The Issues
The review comes at a time when Nigeria’s telecom operators are facing rising operating costs driven by inflation, foreign exchange pressures and increased infrastructure spending. Industry stakeholders have argued that existing interconnection rates no longer reflect actual network deployment and maintenance costs.
At the same time, regulators must balance operator profitability with consumer affordability, particularly as digital financial services, fintech transactions and mobile broadband adoption continue to expand across the country.
What’s Being Said
“Misaligned termination rates can enable dominant operators to foreclose smaller competitors, deter infrastructure investment and ultimately burden consumers through inflated retail prices,” said Mrs. Omotayo Mohammed, Head of Competition and Tariff, NCC.
“Mobile Termination Rates remain central to pricing structures, competition, service quality and consumer experience,” said Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, Director of Public Affairs at the NCC.
What’s Next
- KPMG will conduct stakeholder consultations over the next four months.
- Industry operators, consumer groups and technology stakeholders are expected to submit inputs during the review period.
- The NCC is expected to publish its final determination after reviewing industry submissions and cost models.
Bottom Line
The Bottom Line: The NCC’s review signals one of the most significant telecom pricing assessments in nearly a decade. The outcome could reshape competition, investment incentives and service pricing across Nigeria’s rapidly evolving digital economy.
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