Nigerian operators lose 10 mln subscribers in 2017

Nigeria’s telecommunications industry ended 2017 with 145 million active subscribers, after losing 10 million customers in the past year, according to statistics released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Teledensity fell to 103.6 percent from 110.4 percent a year earlier. 

MTN Nigeria remained market leader with a 36.2 percent share and 51.4 million subscribers. It was followed by Globacom with 37 million subscribers and 26.4 percent market share, and Airtel controlled 25.3 percent of the market with 35.9 million subscribers. 9mobile had a 12.03 percent market share with 17 million subscribers, after losing about 4.5 million subscribers in the course of 2017.

The number of active mobile phone lines in the country rose to 144.63 million in December 2017 from 141.9 million in November. This is an increase of 2.73 million lines. There were still 217,566 CDMA users in December, the same as in November. 

The number of fixed wired or fixed wireless users in December was 139,344 as against 137,190 in November, showing an increase of 2,154 lines. According to the NCC, the number of VoIP users was 70,926 in December while in November it was 61,488, an increase of 5,977.