Everything that is wrong with MTN

Or almost everything. This MTN kvetch that seems to have originated from a BBM broadcast, and has eventually made its way to the internets might not exhaustively capture all of Nigeria’s seething angst at the dominant yellow network, but it is funny nontheless.

An excerpt:

I found out that you, MTN had topped an extra 10 naira to your 100, 200 and 400 airtime packages. Literally, the cost of fuckery (pardon my bad language) has increased by ten naira. We have been told by MTN that the cost of those tools they have been using in torturing has risen and as such, we should pay an extra ten naira to make up for this…Of course I have every right to rant. Didn’t I mention some weeks back I am in a serious relationship with MTN. Don’t even tell me about abusive relationships. I have had my fair share with MTN. I subscribed for a data plan last week and MTN had the guts to bind and destroy my network till my data expired. Last year, I was walked out of an exam hall by the supervisor because my phone rang! One missed call from 180! The painful part of everything is, its difficult to leave them!

Upon on top of the barrage of spam, QoS issues and more that all mobile telcos in Nigeria are already guilty of, it would seem that MTN is now selling airtime at a premium — retailers claim that the company recently obliterated their thin margins, leaving them no choice but to mark up their recharge cards beyond the listed price. Will this be the straw that breaks the camel’s back and sends their customers scurrying over to their competition?