Multichoice, a leading satellite TV provider in Sub-Saharan Africa, is planning to raise subscription fees for DStv and GOtv in Nigeria once again, nearly a year after the last price adjustment.
According to TheCable, sources indicate that the DStv Compact package will see an increase from N15,700 to N19,000. The majority of MultiChoice’s subscribers are on the Compact, Access, and Family packages, which may also experience price hikes, with Family rising from N9,300 to N11,000 and Access from N5,100 to N6,000.
Additionally, the Premium and Compact+ packages, which are the most expensive, will also be impacted by the price changes. GOtv Value subscribers will see their fees increase from N3,600 to N3,900, while GOtv Plus will rise from N4,850 to N5,800, according to further reports.
The depreciation of the naira and rising energy cost have been cited as reasons for the price increases across various sectors, including telecommunications, transportation, and consumer goods. An industry source noted that since the federal government initiated economic reforms in 2023, including the removal of fuel subsidies and increases in electricity tariffs, prices for goods and services have nearly quadrupled, with inflation reaching 34.80 percent as of December 2024. Businesses have been compelled to raise prices multiple times over the past year.
This news comes as Nigerians express frustration over significant increases in mobile data charges from major telecom providers. Following the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) recent approval allowing telecom operators to raise their tariffs by up to 50 percent, MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria have increased their prices for calls, data, and other services.
The NCC justified this decision by stating it would help telecom companies generate revenue to manage rising costs. On January 23, Finance Minister Wale Edun mentioned that the telecommunications sector would undergo regular tariff reviews.
Many Nigerians are currently facing a prolonged cost-of-living crisis, with inflation rates not seen in three decades, making any price increase a further challenge for those struggling to make ends meet.
