NCC slashes cost of SMS to N4

THE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has slashed the cost of Short Messaging Service (SMS) in the country to N4 per message.

Head, Media and Public Relations, NCC, Mr Reuben Muoka, in a press release, said the commission had set a new price cap of N4.00 per message for all domestic Off-Net SMS with effect from February 5, 2013.

He also said the directive to this effect was communicated to the operators since January 3, adding that the commission would not place a price cap on international SMS for now.

The directive, signed by the Director, Legal and Regulatory Services at NCC, Ms Josephine Amuwa, said the commission arrived at the new price cap after due considerations of the submissions made by the operators at various consultative meetings.

She said having evaluated and analysed SMS traffic information provided by the operators, the commission noted that “there was a general recognition that the cost of SMS is too high, especially in view of the interconnection rate of N1.02 for SMS as determined by the commission in 2009.”

Culled from Tribune