The Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) has ordered Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to reinstate promotional offers, which they voluntarily introduced providing consumers with more data and airtime at lower prices.
This announcement comes after promotional packages were eliminated, leaving consumers frustrated despite recent regulatory actions that reduced data prices by more than 100 percent.
The LTA, in collaboration with Mobile Network Operators and the National Association of Telecom Users of Liberia (NATELCO), reported that promotional offers will be resumed immediately, aiming to ease the financial burden on users while more sustainable solutions are developed.
The Chairman of the LTA Board of Commissioners, Abdullah Kamara told Oracle News Daily that these intervention are intended to keep data costs manageable for the Liberian public.
“Together, the LTA, service providers, NATELCO, and other stakeholders have taken significant steps to maintain affordable data for everyone in Liberia,” LTA said in a statement.
“As consultations continue, we ask the public to remain patient and assured that these promotional offers will provide relief until a positive and lasting solution is put in place.”
The decision to eliminate promotional packages, which previously allowed consumers to obtain more data for less, has been met with immense backlash. Consumers perceived the removal of these offers as detrimental, especially given the stark contrast between the previous deal structures and current pricing schemes.
Kamara sought to clarify misunderstandings surrounding the LTA’s regulatory role, denying speculation that the authority had raised the price floor on data and minutes packages.
He highlighted that rather than a price hike, the services had seen a significant increase in value, exemplified by $1 recharge cards offering 90 to 100 minutes compared to the previous rate of 45 minutes.
The Chairman attributed the confusion to the sudden discontinuation of promotional packages by service providers without adequate public communication.
“It appears that consumers believe we have reduced the price flow, which is not true. The promotional packages were stopped by the providers as a direct consequence of the new price floor,” he explained.
Historical trends indicate that the former board of commissioners allowed liberal promotional offerings during the election year, resulting in a regulatory vacuum that has contributed to the current pricing confusion.
The LTA is operating in a challenging industry where balancing profitability for service providers and affordability for consumers is critical.
In a bid to establish sustainable pricing structures, the World Bank has engaged telecommunications experts to conduct research on price floors in comparable regions. This initiative aims to provide insights that will help establish fair and affordable pricing for data services in Liberia.
