Abuja – Subscribers in Abuja have commended network providers in the country for the downward review of data bundle charges and improvement of data allocation systems for easier and cheaper internet browsing.
A cross section of the subscribers made the commendation in Abuja during interview with newsmen.
“Before, data bundle charges were quite very expensive for the average Nigerians, but most network providers try to make their data bundle plans suitable for everyone in terms affordability,” said Ibrahim Abduljabbar, a civil servant.
“With the new smart phones that come into the market on a daily basis, people can only enjoy using them if they subscribe to any of the mobile data plans.
“A mobile device without a source of internet connectivity is like a car without fuel or a human body without blood.
“Therefore, there is need for government to adjust its policy on ICT to enable service providers to accommodate cheaper data plans.
“If they do that, subscribers will be able to do more and even make their services cheaper than it is right now,” Abduljabbar said.
Mr. Peter Owoicho, a lecturer with the University of Abuja, said using android phones to browse the internet was easier compared to when the network providers started operating in the country.
Dr Ayo Ayorinde, a consultant in a private hospital in Garki, because of the downward review of the data bundle charges he now used his phone’s internet, and that it had made his work easier and faster.
“With N1,000, I am able to subscribe to the Blackberry messaging for a period of 30 days on my old blackberry device; so, for one month, I use my phone to browse.
“This has also made it easier for me to access the social networks and most of my clients on E-mail, Twitter or Face book.
“To me, the data is always just enough; we will appreciate it if this facility can be extended to other android phones,” Ayorinde said.
Hajiya Zainab Usman, a business woman, told journalists that the data bundle was never sufficient for her monthly use.
“I used an iPhone and if I didn’t switch off my data, I ended up running out of data plan before the month ended.
“This can be quite annoying sometimes because the phone itself used up the data for auto updates.
“Also, the connectivity was not yet as fast as it should be, but it has improved now.
“Before, I spent as much as N3,000 on my phone within two days, but now, I spend the same amount monthly.
“The service providers should please do more because they too are aware of all the gadgets in vogue and the level at which they consume data,” Usman said.
Mr Friday Akoma, a student of University of Abuja, said no amount of data would be enough for most students who rely on the internet for research materials.
“We depend on the internet to be able to do research for our assignments.
“Our school is trying to make internet access available to students but that will not be enough to cater for all the students; we just have to buy data on our own.
“The providers should still review the data plans further down or try to create a special package to meet the needs of students,” Akoma said.
Mr Jalo Daniel, a Fashion Designer from Equatorial Guinea, said data was cheaper in Nigeria than in his country.
“With just N500, I can stay connected with my friends on Whatsapp and Face book for a month but in my country, you would have to spend all your monthly earnings to achieve that,”’ Daniel said.
Mr Evans Duguba, a software programmer, called on government to do more in terms of domestication of ICT policies to enable Nigerians to participate in world technology advancement.
“Network providers are really trying; so, I urge government to domesticate all ICT policies to allow Nigerians the opportunity to enjoy ICT benefits like citizens of developed countries do.
“As a programmer, we have to try and design light applications because if they are heavy, nobody will download them,” he said.
It would be recalled that most of the network providers had effectively reviewed their data bundle charges downward in the last quarter of 2014.
The data bundle charges now start from N100, depending on the data plan.
This development has helped most people to access the internet on their mobile phones without having to go to cyber café.