The suspension followed the uproar that the announcement of imposition of a price floor on the network operators has generated. The price floor, which would have taken effect today (Thursday) is about 200 per cent higher than what mobile telecommunications operators currently charge for data.
In a statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs, NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, in Abuja on Wednesday, the commission said the decision to suspend the directive was taken after due consultation with industry stakeholders and in view of the general complaints by consumers across the country.
Ojobo noted that the price floor was not an increase in price, but a regulatory safeguard put in place by the telecommunications regulator to check anti-competitive practices by dominant operators.
Consumers, however, believe that it is a new consumption tax imposed by the regulator since they have opposed a plan by the government to impose a nine per cent tax on telephone calls made in the country.
He added that the NCC, as a responsive agency of the government, took into consideration the feelings of the consumers and so decided to suspend the new price floor.
Despite the announcement of the suspension, the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers warned the Federal Government that it would resist any attempt in the future to increase data tariff rates in the country.
The NATCOMS stated this on Wednesday, some hours after the NCC said it had suspended action on the new price floor of data tariff.
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