Some Nigerians who make use of Android
phones and Java operating devices have taken to social media to protest
against what they call ‘exorbitant’ cost of Internet subscription being
charged by telecoms firms.
Also part of the protest are those who use smart devices such as i-Phone and Windows phone.
They alleged that they are not getting
value on their subscription plans, compared to users of BlackBerry
phones in terms of data allowance and prices.
The users who besieged various social
networking sites urged the Nigerian Communications Commission to prevail
on telecoms firms to address the issue, so that they can begin to enjoy
same benefits BlackBerry users enjoy on their platforms.
To register their displeasure, some subscribers have launched an online petition on change.org. The petition is titled “Telecoms Service Provider in Nigeria: All Data Users Demand Fairness.’’
The petition, which has attracted 40
signatures, reads, “The Nigerian youths are crying out loud. We need a
better data plan for Internet access on our smartphones. The present
data plans are too expensive compared to the bandwidth.’’
The petitioners have also tweeted their
complaints to the handles of the various telecoms firms as well as the
NCC. The hashtag #AllDataUsersDemandsFairness has also been employed by
the subscribers to register their protest on the social network.
Writing on the Facebook wall of the NCC,
one Ugochukwu Samuel argues that the situation where he gets between
200 and 350 megabytes for N1,000, while those on Blackberry get between 1
and 3 gigabyte for N1,000, is “unfair.’’
He states, “As a citizen of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, I wish to express my right by urging the Nigerian
Communications Commission to see to the review of the data cap attached
to the subscription of data on smart phones such as Android, IOS and
Windows by our network providers.
“I demand a fair data plan. In
comparison to the Blackberry plan, which is considered slightly
affordable, subscribers on Android get between 200 and 350MB for N1,000
while those on Blackberry get between 1 and 3GB for N1,000.
“We wish that prices for data are made
more affordable for Nigerian youths who rely on the Internet for
resources which are not easily available within our society. In
solidarity with other youths fighting for this cause, we shall continue
to lament and express our desires until we get a positive intervention.”
Also reacting on Facebook, one Musa
Rasheed writes, “We need a fair data plan for Android devices. These
telecoms firms are charging just too much for nothing. Paying N1,000 for
just 260MB worth of data is unfair. Other countries get better deals.
NCC, please come to our aid. We’ve suffered too much in silence. Now we
are tired.’’
A member of the online forum, nairaland.com,
with the name, My Hobbies, urged telecoms firms to provide them with a
similar package BlackBerry that users enjoy on their platforms, which
allow them to get a fair value for their money.
“Android phone users are not happy with
what our local telecoms firms are doing to us. We the Android phone
users should be given a special package like that of BlackBerry plans.
The current system, where they make us subscribe to MB worth of N1,000
and above, and they give us between 200MB, and 250MB is not fair at all.
We all know how Android can drain megabytes. NCC, please, do
something,’’ he adds.
When our correspondent contacted the
Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, he said there was
nothing the agency could do about it, because it was not a regulatory
issue.
He said, “We (NCC) don’t regulate
technology. BlackBerry is a peculiar service different from other
platforms. NCC doesn’t provide Internet services and the enquiry is not
a regulatory issue.’’
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