Fakoyejo OlalekanThe number of active telephony subscribers in Nigeria fell in the first quarter of 2023 by 58,900 or 0.02 per cent, according to the telecommunications industry’s data analysed by Prime Business Africa.
At the close of January, the total number of active telephony subscribers was 225.88 million. This figure increased to 226.83 million in February, however, it dropped at the end of March to 225.82 million active subscribers.
The drop in the industry’s total active subscribers was caused by 633,335 combined losses suffered by MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria during the review period, Prime Business Africa noted.
A rundown of the industry’s telephony data obtained from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) showed that Globacom and 9mobile are the only networks that recorded growth in their telephony subscriber base.
MTN Nigeria
MTN Nigeria lost 398,128 subscribers within the first three months of this year, as the network provider’s call subscribers fell to 91.55 million at the end of Q1 2023.
- The y’ello network had ended January with 91.95 million subscribers. MTN increased its subscriber base to 92.70 million the next month, but this figure dropped in March to 91.55 million subscribers.
- Despite failing to grow its subscribers, MTN retained its market dominance, accounting for 40.54 per cent industry share.
- Although the market share fell to 40.54 per cent at the end of the first quarter, from 40.70 per cent share.
Airtel Nigeria
Airtel Nigeria joined MTN Nigeria in the losers list, but it suffered a lower loss, as its telephony subscriber base dwindled by 235,207 between January to March.
- Prime Business Africa observed that Airtel had 60.56 million voice subscribers in January, but ended February with 60.30 million, before managing to grow the base to 60.32 million in March.
- Airtel Africa also saw its hold on the telephony industry fall to 26.71 per cent market share due to the loss of 235,207 subscribers.
- Note that at the start of the first quarter, Airtel Africa’s market share was around 26.81 per cent according to PBA.
- As a result of the drop in subscriber base, Prime Business Africa analysis disclosed that Airtel Nigeria lost its spot as the second highest market share holder to Globacom.
9mobile
Surprisingly, while MTN Nigeria and Airtel couldn’t grow their subscribers during the review period, PBA analysis showed that 9mobile closed the three months with 109,023.
- 9mobile was the second biggest gainer in the first quarter, as the company’s telephony subscribers rose from 13.023 million at the end of January to 13.14 million at the end of March.
- In February, 9mobile had 13.07 million subscribers, which means for every month in the first quarter, the firm’s subscriber base grew.
- Due to the growth in its subscriber base, 9mobile’s market share inched higher from 5.76 per cent to 5.81 per cent
- However, regardless of the growth, 9mobile remained in fourth place on the telco list, with the lowest market share in the first quarter of 2023.
Globacom
Globacom increased its active telephony subscribers in the first three months of this year, having closed March with 60.79 million users.
- The number of subscribers was 60.75 million at the end of February, which also surpassed the 60.33 million users Globacom recorded in January.
- Globacom recorded the highest growth in telephony subscriber base during the period in review, running off with 465,412.
- This enabled Glo to grab the second market share holder position from Airtel Nigeria, accounting for 26.92 per cent of the telephony service.
- Prime Business Africa gathered that Glo ranked third in January when it held 26.71 per cent market share. The firm now ranks behind MTN on the list.
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