By Ayo Kehinde
The Association of Licenced Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has issued a formal clarification regarding the transition to the End-User Billing (EUB) model for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) services, confirming that mobile subscribers will begin to bear the cost of USSD sessions directly from Wednesday, June 18, 2025.
ALTON said in a statement jointly signed by Engr. Gbenga Adebayo and Damian Udeh, Chairman and Publicity Secretary, respectively, that the new billing system represents a regulatory mandate issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), developed in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other industry stakeholders.
The EUB model replaces the previous corporate billing structure, where banks were responsible for USSD charges, a model that led to recurring disputes, delayed payments, and occasional service disruptions.
“This clarification is necessary to reassure the public that the implementation of end-user billing is a policy decision anchored on sustainability, transparency, and service continuity. We want customers to understand that this change is not a withdrawal of service but a restructured payment method aimed at protecting all stakeholders, including end users”, ALTON stated.
Under the new model, telecom operators will charge subscribers directly, with N6.98 deducted per 120-second USSD session. Importantly, these charges will be drawn from the customer’s airtime balance.
To ensure transparency, subscribers will receive a prompt to opt in and approve the charge before any deduction is made. ALTON also assured users that billing will apply only to successful USSD sessions, and there will be no double charging.
“This transition does not affect the availability or functionality of USSD banking services. As long as users have sufficient airtime, they can continue to access their bank’s USSD codes as usual”, ALTON added.
In line with regulatory requirements, only banks that meet specific compliance and operational standards are permitted to migrate to the EUB model. These include notifying their customers in advance and ensuring the necessary infrastructure is in place to support seamless billing and service continuity.
ALTON further advised subscribers to contact their mobile network operators for access-related concerns (such as inability to dial USSD codes) and to reach out to their banks for transaction-specific issues (like failed transfers or incorrect charges).
The association emphasised that both banks and telecom operators are under an obligation to provide responsive customer support during and after the transition.
While encouraging subscribers to maintain adequate airtime for uninterrupted access to USSD banking, ALTON also reminded the public that other digital channels, including mobile apps, internet banking platforms, and ATMs, remain fully operational and unaffected by the billing change.
