Airtel joins MTN, Increases Data plans & Call rates by 50%

Airtel Nigeria has raised the prices of its internet and voice plans by 50% one week after news of a similar hike by MTN Nigeria broke out.

With the new pricing, Airtel’s cheapest monthly data plan is now 2GB for ₦1,500, replacing the previous 1.2GB plan that cost ₦1,000. 

Other changes include 3GB for ₦2,000 (up from 1.5GB at ₦1,200), 4GB for ₦2,500 (previously 3GB at ₦1,500), and 8GB for ₦3,000 (up from 4.5GB at ₦2,000). Bigger plans have also been adjusted, with 10GB now costing ₦4,000 (previously 6GB at ₦2,500), 13GB for ₦5,000 (up from 10GB at ₦3,000), 18GB for ₦6,000 (previously 15GB at ₦4,000), and 25GB for ₦8,000 (replacing the former 18GB plan at ₦5,000).

The adjustment continues to be a wider trend of telcos reviewing prices after the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) approved a 50% tariff increase on January 20, 2025. MTN Nigeria, which was the first to implement the increase, got public backlash after the telco adjusted three of its data plans by more than 50%. While MTN Nigeria said its hike did not exceed the NCC-approved target and was merely removing subsidies from its special plans, the company later issued a letter of apology to its subscribers. 

Airtel Nigeria, however has implemented a 25 kobo flat rate per second of calls, according to a company representative. 

One-minute call on the network now cost around ₦15, an increase from the former ₦11. The tariff increase was not reflected in many of the daily and weekly plans.

Subscribers can still buy the one-week 5GB plan for ₦1,500, The Airtel Unlimited plans like ₦20,000 for 200GB in 30 days plus 10GB daily upon exhausting main data, and ₦30,000 for 300GB in 30 days are still available.