Recent statistics from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) indicate that the number of telecommunications subscribers has dropped
In the month of August the subscriber figure was at 159,503,865, while in September it dropped down to 154,904,827. This trend had been consistent since January 2024, when the figures started sliding from 218,400,965.
On QoQ, the figure dropped with as much as 15,999,430, from 170,904,257 in the Q2 to 154,904,827 by the end of Q3.
Explaining the significant drop in Nigeria’s telecoms subscriber base, the NCC noted that the trend stems from the removal of Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) that are not linked to verifiable National Identification Numbers (NINs), and the rectification of a major discrepancy by a Mobile Network Operator.
Also the teledensity shrunk from 102.30% in September 2023 to 71.46. At the beginning of last quarter, the teledensity was 100.9%.
The NCC attributed this to the recalculation of the teledensity. From September 2023, teledensity is calculated based on Nigerian Population Commission’s projected population figure of 216 million.
Industry Statistics
Consistent with Section 89 Subsection 3(d) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 (NCA 2003), the Commission is mandated to monitor and report on the state of the Nigerian telecommunications industry, provide statistical analyses and identify industry trends with regard to services, tariffs, operators, technology, subscribers, issues of competition and dominance, etc. with a view to identifying areas where regulatory intervention would be needed;
In view of this, the Commission regularly conducts studies and surveys and produces reports on the telecommunications industry, and telecommunications operators are obligated, under the terms of the licenses, to provide the NCC with such data on a regular basis for analytical review and publishing.
Please click the links below to view the latest Nigerian telecommunications industry data as gathered from regular studies, surveys and reports, conducted and collected by the Nigerian Communications Commission.
Last Update: October 28, 2024
This section contains the sum total of all active telephony subscribers and teledensity as calculated on monthly and annual basis. Teledensity is defined as the number of active telephone connections per one hundred (100) inhabitants living within an area and is expressed as a percentage figure.
The removal of Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) that are not linked to verifiable National Identification Numbers (NINs) and the rectification of a major discrepancy by a Mobile Network Operator explain the significant drop in Nigeria’s telecoms subscriber base.
From September 2023, teledensity is calculated based on Nigerian Population Commission’s projected population figure of 216 million.
Sep’24 Aug’24 Jul’24 Jun’24 May’24 Apr’24 Mar’24 Feb’24 Jan’24 Dec’23 Nov’23 Oct’23 Sep’23 subscription
154,904,827 159,503,865 166,656,227 170,904,257 172,141,538 216,974,742 219,304,281 219,970,313 218,400,965 224,713,710 223,220,009 222,188,195 221,769,883
Teledensity (%)
71.46 73.58 76.88 78.84% 79.41% 100.09% 101.16% 101.47% 100.75% 103.66% 102.97% 102.49% 102.30%
September 2024 Airtel 9mobile Globacom MTN
Subscribers 53,748,688 3,635,160 19,152,907 78,097,681
Percentage(%) 34.76% 2.35% 12.39% 50.50%
