The Director General of the National Communication Authority (NCA) has assured the public that data prices will decrease by the final quarter of the year.
Addressing the widespread concerns about high costs and poor service quality on Citi FM, NCA’s Director General, Dr Joe Anokye highlighted that the introduction of the NGIC wholesale carrier-neutral open access network will drive down data prices.
This network, set to launch by the end of the year, will enable providers such as AT, Telecel, and MTN to purchase bulk data without upgrading their infrastructure, thereby enhancing efficiency and reducing costs.
This announcement responded to extensive criticism and calls for the dissolution of the NCA board, partly due to MTN’s designation as a Significant Market Power (SMP), which some argue has resulted in unreliable data supply and high costs.
The NCA clarified that the SMP classification promotes fair competition, not to impede MTN’s operations.
The Authority emphasised that measures such as unbalanced interconnection rates, tariff parity, and technology neutrality foster competition, innovation, and consumer protection.
