Data War: 9mobile Loses Over 970,000 Data Subscribers, As Airtel Outperforms MTN, Glo

In the first nine months of 2022, 9mobile suffered a significant loss in its internet subscriber base, with Airtel Africa recording the highest growth compared to MTN Nigeria and Globacom.

As the data war hots up, 9mobile lost 974,543 internet subscribers between January to September, with the firm’s data user base depreciating by -16.9 per cent, from 5.75 million to 4.77 million at the end of Q3.

Breakdown of data war between Airtel, MTN, Glo

In an industry stat analysed by Prime Business Africa, this publication gathered that 9mobile was the only network provider that lost internet subscribers.

Further breakdown of the industry performance showed that Airtel’s data user base grew faster at 9.51 per cent, than that of MTN Nigeria, which recorded 8.93 per cent and Globacom’s 6.96 per cent. 

Although MTN Nigeria gained more data subscribers, 5.25 million, compared to the 3.57 million and 2.75 million subscribers that Airtel and Globacom recorded between the first quarter and third quarter, respectively.

Despite gaining more and having more market share, MTN grew its industry share at the same pace with Airtel, with the former’s market share rising from 41.5 per cent to 42 per cent, and the latter increasing from 26.49 per cent to 26.99 per cent.

Prime Business Africa gathered Globacom and 9mobile didn’t share the same fate, as they lost their market share within the nine-month period in review, as Glo saw its share fall from 27.9 per cent to 27.7 per cent.

This occurred as the total industry’s data subscriber base rose from 141,61 million as of December 2021, to 152.22 million at the end of September 2022.

MTN, Airtel and Globacom’s data users’ growth

During the review period, Prime Business Africa learnt that MTN Nigeria’s internet subscribers grew by 8.93 per cent, representing 5.25 million gain. This increased its data users from 58.81 million to 64.06 million. 

Globacom, the data market’s second largest share holder, saw its data user base grow to 42.27 million at the end of Q3 2022, from the 39.52 million it opened the year with, after gaining 2.75 million subscribers. 

Airtel Africa raised its internet subscriber base close to Globacom, closing the third quarter with 41.09 million, indicating a growth of 9.51 per cent when compared to this year’s opening of 37.52 million data users.