NCC Stats: MTN Loses Subscribers for the First Time in 12 Months

Blockchain, Fintech and the Future of Banking by Austin Okere

Telecom giants, MTN lost a considerable number of mobile subscribers in September. According to the industry statistics released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), MTN dropped for the first time in the last 12 months.

MTN recorded 82,635,082 mobile subscribers in September, losing a net subscriber of 448,431 from the total of 83,083,913 recorded in August.

The last time MTN subscriber’s dropped was in September 2019. Its numbers dropped from 65,707,899 in August to 65,328,104.

This development comes as a surprise because the company had earlier posted that it added 3.9 million subscribers in its Q3 report that ended September 30th.

NCC Stats: MTN Losses Subscriber for the First Time in 12 Months

Globacom is the highest gainer

MTN remains the market leader but Globacom was the highest gainer of the month. The telco added 1.32 million subscribers to bring its total number of subscribers to 54.25 million.

Airtel comes in second, adding 483,851 subscribers to widen the gap between itself and Globacom. Airtel now has a total mobile subscriber base of 55.25 million as against Globacoms 54.25 million.

Keeping its steady growth from June, 9mobile added another 351,610 subscribers in September to bring its total number of subscribers to 12.72 million.

In general, the total number of mobile subscribers in the country rose to 204.86 million. This indicates an addition of about 1.7 million subscribers in the last month.

NCC Stats: MTN Losses Subscriber for the First Time in 12 Months

Internet subscribers hit 150 million

All 4 major mobile operators reported an increase in internet subscribers in September. This brings the total number of internet subscribers in the country to 151.06 million.

Globacom was also the highest internet gainer of the month, adding 638,230 subscribers to bring its total to about 39.12 million. Airtel followed closely, adding 519,257 subscribers to bring its total to 40.31 million during the month.

Despite the drop in mobile subscribers, MTN recorded growth in internet subscribers. The telco added 462,484 subscribers to extend its number of subscribers to 64.35 million.

9mobile continued its steady climb from June, adding just 104,473 internet subscribers to bring its total number of subscribers to 7.27 million.

NCC Stats: MTN Losses Subscriber for the First Time in 12 Months

Suggested read: NCC Approves e-SIM Trial for MTN, 9Mobile to Run for One Year

Over 19,400 porters

9mobile regained its crown as the most favourable network for porters in the month of September. The telco recorded 6,963 users joining from other operators.

Airtel comes in second with 6,506 subscribers porting into its network. MTN follows with the number of porting subscribers increasing to 5,635 during the month. Globacom remains bottom of the log with just 308 incoming porters.

On the outgoing end, Globacom leads the chart with 7,646 subscribers porting to other mobile operators. Airtel follows with 4,491 subscribers leaving its network during the month while MTN and 9mobile lost the fewest with 3,850 and 3,003 subscribers lost respectively.

NCC Stats: MTN Losses Subscriber for the First Time in 12 Months

Nigeria’s Broadband penetration exceeds 45%

Broadband penetration in the country rose above 45% in September after gaining an impressive 2.13% during the month. The number of 3G and 4G subscribers also rose to 86.71 million from 82.65 million in the previous month

In summary, September wasn’t a good month for market leaders, MTN as it recorded its slowest growth in months. However, the growth of the industry was steady with internet subscribers crossing 150 million mark and broadband penetration rising above 45%.


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