Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commenced a comprehensive review of Mobile Termination Rates (MTR) eight years after the current rates were introduced, citing changing economic realities, technological advancements and shifts in telecommunications traffic patterns.

Mobile Termination Rates are regulated fees paid by one operator to another to complete calls across networks.

They influence competition, investment, and retail pricing.

The exercise, kicked off in Lagos at a mobile termination rate stakeholder forum on Tuesday, brought regulators, operators and industry participants into a structured process to reassess wholesale pricing rules that govern payments between networks for completing voice calls.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement in Lagos, Mrs Omotayo Mohammed, head of Competition and Tariff at the NCC, said the review had become necessary because the existing rates no longer reflect prevailing operational and economic conditions in the telecommunications sector.

According to her, the current MTR stands at N3.90 per minute for generic operators and N4.70 per minute for new entrants, rates that have remained unchanged since 2018.

Mohammed noted that the telecommunications landscape has undergone significant changes over the years, driven by naira depreciation, rising inflation, escalating energy costs and evolving consumer behaviour.

“The foundation of wholesale interconnection affects every stakeholder in this room. Misaligned termination rates can enable dominant operators to foreclose smaller competitors, deter infrastructure investment and ultimately burden consumers through inflated retail prices,” she said.

She explained that the deployment of 5G networks, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven services and Internet of Things (IoT) applications has altered network usage patterns beyond what was envisaged in the 2018 cost model.

Mohammed further observed that over-the-top (OTT) platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram now account for a significant share of voice and messaging traffic, reducing dependence on traditional interconnection services.

To drive the review process, the NCC has engaged KPMG as consultant for the study and stakeholder engagement exercise, which is expected to last four months.

The exercise will also examine issues relating to Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) services and application-to-person (A2P) short message service (SMS), both of which have become increasingly critical to Nigeria’s digital economy.

Mohammed stated that the review is being conducted in line with Sections 4, 96, 97 and 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, which empower the commission to promote investment, protect consumers and ensure fair competition.

She said the study would establish a cost-reflective MTR framework across different technology generations, operator categories and clearing house arrangements.

The review will also cover international termination rates (ITR) to tackle grey-route traffic concerns, develop a pricing framework for mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) and assess the current asymmetric rate structure between established operators and new entrants.

“The consultancy adopts an evidence-based and consultative approach. Stakeholders will have opportunities to submit their views and validate assumptions before any determination is made,” Mohammed assured.

She added that the review is expected to enhance retail affordability, improve access to digital financial services and enable operators to recover costs in line with prevailing capital and operational expenditure realities.

According to her, transparent and cost-reflective rates will encourage infrastructure investment and boost investor confidence in Nigeria’s digital economy.

Mohammed also assured stakeholders that the NCC would make its methodology, key assumptions and cost model parameters available throughout the process to ensure transparency and accountability.

In her remarks, Mrs Nnenna Ukoha, director of Public Affairs at the NCC,  noted that mobile termination rates remain central to pricing structures, competition, service quality and overall consumer experience.

“We are particularly encouraged by the rapt attention, intellectual rigour and keen interest demonstrated by participants throughout today’s session.

“This active engagement reflects not only the relevance of the issues discussed but also a shared commitment to the sustainable growth and development of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector,” Ukoha said.

She stressed that discussions at the forum highlighted both the challenges and opportunities associated with the MTR determination process and underscored the need for sustained stakeholder engagement.

Ukoha reiterated that the consultation window remains open and encouraged industry stakeholders to submit additional inputs, data and perspectives to support a balanced, forward-looking and sustainable outcome for the sector.

She reaffirmed the NCC’s commitment to collaboration and inclusive regulation aimed at building a resilient, competitive and future-ready telecommunications industry.

As the world enters a pivotal era of digital policy negotiations, the 17th Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum (NDSF) on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) has set a clear mandate: Nigeria must evolve from a spectator to a leader in global digital governance.

R-L Delegation of the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) led by Assistant Director, Mrs. Doyin Aiyenitaju and Mrs Olubunmi with the chairman Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum on Internet Governance for Development (NDSF-IG4D) 2026, and Director, Strategic Business at ipNX, Dr. Olusola Teniola (hon) and Lead Convener of NDSF 2026 and Lead Convener, NDSF and Group Executive Editor, ITREALMS Media group, Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke during the event held at Welcome Centre Hotels, International Airport Road, Lagos.

In his welcome address at the forum, which convened on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at the Welcome Centre Hotels, Lagos, the Lead Convener of the NDSF and Group Executive Editor of ITREALMS Media Group, Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, issued a rallying cry to industry stakeholders. “As the world negotiates the next phase of global digital compacts, Nigeria must not merely be a spectator; we must be an active architect,” Nweke declared.

Echoing this sentiment, the Chairman of the forum, Dr. Olusola Teniola, challenged participants to ensure that the multi-stakeholder dialogue translates into tangible progress. Emphasizing that “the ultimate measure of digital transformation is the positive impact it has on citizens and communities,” Dr. Teniola urged stakeholders to move beyond talk and commit to concrete, measurable, and actionable outcomes.

He further noted that “the complexity of today’s digital ecosystem requires stronger collaboration among government, the private sector, civil society, academia, the technical community, development partners, and users themselves” to realize the WSIS vision of an inclusive, people-centered information society.

To achieve this, Nweke emphasized the urgent need to strengthen Nigeria’s digital foundations, noting that true digital sovereignty requires robust infrastructure, including data center interconnectivity and carrier-neutral protections.

He further advocated for the expansion of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to boost the .ng domain brand and support the SMEs that drive the national economy.

The forum also prioritized the empowerment of the next generation through several key initiatives:

The newly optimized Women, Youth & Students Track, which equipped attendees with cybersecurity skills through a “Phishing @ A Glance” presentation sponsored by the DNS WomenNG Foundation.

The formal adoption of the “2026 Nigerian Youth Declaration on Digital Rights” by secondary school participants, ensuring young voices are central to the policy conversation.

The launch of the 2026 National DigitalSENSE Youth Essay Competition, designed to institutionalize youth advocacy and digital rights awareness nationwide.

Nweke concluded by thanking the forum’s institutional partners, including the NCC, NITDA, ALTON, ISOC Nigeria, Digital Realty, DNS WomenNG Foundation, IHS Nigeria, and NLNG; for their commitment to the multi-stakeholder synergy necessary to bridge the digital divide.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced plans to ban children under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms, describing the move as necessary to protect young people from online harm.

The proposed restrictions will apply to platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube and X.

Messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal will not be affected by the measures.

In a recorded video message released on Monday, Starmer said the government was taking decisive action in response to growing concerns about the impact of social media on children’s wellbeing.

“It’s a big step for our country. Social media is making our children unhappy and unsafe, and as a parent, as much as a Prime Minister, I just can’t let that go on anymore,” he said.

The announcement follows a national consultation conducted between March and May, which received more than 116,000 responses on children’s use of technology.

According to the findings, more than 83 per cent of parents believed the risks associated with social media outweighed its benefits, while 90 per cent supported setting 16 as the minimum age for accessing social media platforms.

The British government said legislation would be introduced before Christmas, with the protections expected to come into force next spring.

Under the proposed framework, children under 16 will also be prevented from using livestreaming features and from communicating with strangers on affected platforms.

Starmer acknowledged that implementing age restrictions would be challenging but said the government had carefully reviewed available evidence and lessons from other countries before deciding to proceed.

“It’s not an easy thing to do. We haven’t rushed into it. We’ve looked carefully at the evidence and will continue adapting our approach as technology changes,” he said.

The Prime Minister also signalled a willingness to confront major technology firms that may oppose the policy.

“We will take them on, and we will win, because the need for action could not be any clearer,” he added.

The move comes amid increasing global efforts to regulate children’s access to social media.

Last year, Australia became the first country to enact legislation restricting access to major social media platforms for children under 16.

However, Australian authorities have reported enforcement challenges, with a recent study indicating that many children continued to maintain accounts despite the restrictions.

Alongside the proposed ban, the British government announced a £132.5 million “Every Child Can” programme aimed at expanding access to sports, arts and nature-based activities in schools and local communities as alternatives to excessive screen time.

The initiative follows recent calls by the government for technology companies, including Apple and Google, to strengthen safeguards preventing children from taking, sharing or viewing nude images online.

The government said the measures were designed to combat online exploitation, reduce children’s exposure to harmful content and improve online safety.

Meanwhile, social media companies in the United States continue to face legal challenges alleging that their platforms contributed to mental health problems among young users and failed to adequately protect children from online predators.

Supporters of stricter age-verification requirements argue that they are necessary to shield children from harmful online content, while critics have raised concerns over privacy, data protection and freedom of expression.