“Not Cool, Telecel!” — Less Than 3 Days’ Notice for Broadband Price Hike
- Telecel Ghana Draws Criticism After Issuing Less Than Three Days’ Notice Ahead of Broadband Price Increase
Telecel Ghana has sparked concern among consumers and advocates after issuing an abrupt announcement regarding an upward revision of its broadband subscription prices. Customers were informed via SMS at approximately 5:20 p.m. today that the new pricing would take effect on Monday, April 28, 2025—giving subscribers less than three days’ notice to adjust.
The short-notice communication underscores a growing pattern within Ghana’s telecommunications sector, where service providers increasingly notify customers of price hikes with minimal lead time.
While acknowledging that market dynamics and operational costs may necessitate adjustments, CUTS International, a consumer rights organisation, emphasised that transparent and timely communication is critical, particularly for subscription-based services that operate on a prepaid model.
Telecel’s broadband service is billed monthly, making the timing of the announcement particularly contentious. Best practices within subscription-based industries typically require service providers to give at least one month’s advance notice of price increases to allow consumers adequate time to review options, budget accordingly, or reconsider service plans.
“A notice period of less than three days is not only insufficient but also undermines the ability of consumers to make informed decisions,” CUTS International stated. “Respect for consumer rights is fundamental in competitive markets, especially where services are prepaid and renewed regularly.”
The organisation stressed that predictable pricing practices build trust and help maintain stable provider-customer relationships in sectors where competition and customer loyalty are crucial.
This latest development comes on the heels of a similar incident involving MultiChoice Ghana Ltd, the operators of DStv, which last month gave subscribers less than one week’s notice ahead of a price increase.
In response to these recurring practices, CUTS International is urging the National Communications Authority (NCA) to institute clear regulatory guidelines. Specifically, the organisation advocates for a mandatory minimum notice period—ideally not less than 30 days for all price adjustments by telecom and pay-TV operators.
“Timely disclosure of price changes is not a privilege, it is a right,” the CUTS added. “We call on the NCA to take decisive action to uphold consumer protection standards in the digital economy.”
As Ghana’s communications landscape continues to evolve, the call for stricter consumer protection frameworks is likely to intensify, particularly as competition among service providers sharpens and customer expectations rise.
