All of us wonder why after more than a decade of mobile telecoms operation in Nigeria, telecoms services are still relatively poor and expensive. The frustrating bit is when you need to make an important call but your telecom provider can't connect you or the worst bit you get connected but to the wrong person possibly to an Igbo businessman screaming "5,000 last Nna call me when you are ready" -You would look at the phone screen surprisingly like Mr Joshua doesn't speak like that, he's an Ijebu man. The frustration is real.
We did a number of digging to see why providing good telecom service is a problem in Nigeria. The fault is not entirely the telecoms' companies fault. The government has failed in a number a ways to provide an enabling environment for this sector.
Vandalisation of their infrastructure by militants especially in the Northern part of the country cost the companies $4.6B yearly. State government ridiculous tax imposed on them to set up Base Transceiver Station (BTS), even installation of one mast attract $5,000 in tax, and $30 per metre of fibre cable laid, though they are being urged by National Association Of Telecom Subscribers to lessen these charges.
Also telecoms providers always have to seek alternative electricity supply in case of interruption which runs into Millions of Dollar yearly. Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) punish these companies through fines for poor services, cost which are pass over to customer directly or indirectly. Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) Gbenga Adebayo, said fines will not improve services but will worsen it, we think he's right. -Financial resources used to address these problems could have been used to improve services and lessen cost of telecom services at least considering that the service is poor.
There you have it, now you know why you pay more for poor telecoms services.
