MTN is biggest gainer as 21,051 subscribers ported in H1 2022

Omoleye Omoruyi
Meanwhile, for H1 2022, telecommunications operators added 8.9 million subscribers to the country’s network.
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Mobile telephone operators lost 21,051 subscribers in the first six months of the year (H1 2022) as customers ported out to get better service quality. Total recorded porting in H1 2021 was 606. In H1 2020, the number is 82,495.

Data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) revealed that a total of 3,246 subscribers ported from one network to another in May 2022 alone. This resulted in gains for the two largest mobile network operators, MTN and Airtel, as more subscribers moved to their networks.

MTN gained 1,731 customers from other networks in May, while Airtel attracted 1,050.

The data shows that 9mobile received 314 customers from other networks, while Globacom attracted 151 customers through porting.

Porting activities: 2019-2022
Porting activities: 2019-2022

Subscribers porting highlights (May 2022):

  • 9mobile emerged as the biggest loser for the month as 2,728 subscribers ported out of its network to others.
  • Airtel recorded 815 outgoing porting.
  • MTN lost 200 subscribers to other networks.
  • 297 subscribers left Globacom.

MTN and Airtel had the most gains in May 2022 as active mobile subscribers on the major networks rose to 204.2 million. Glo also saw new customers, but 9mobile lost the most. The three telecom networks added 2.9 million subscribers in May, which raised the database from 201.3 million in April.

NCC data shows that MTN, the largest operator by subscriber number, gained 1.5 million new subscriptions in May and raised its total active customer database to 77.7 million from 76.2 million in April.

Airtel added 1.3 million new subscriptions. So, its active customer database rose to 57.6 million in May from 56.2 million in April.

Globacom’s customer base increased to 86,145, bringing its total to 56.2 million in May from 56.1 million in April.

9mobile recorded a loss, as its customer database dipped by 79,845 to 12.6 million.

In June 2022, data from the NCC revealed that 1,770 mobile subscribers ported their numbers to the MTN network.

Subscribers porting highlights (June 2022):

  • Airtel received 356 customers from other networks.
  • 9mobile received 324 customers through porting.
  • Globacom also saw 151 customers move to its network from other operators.

9mobile emerged as the biggest loser for the month as 1,661 subscribers ported out. The network has lost 8,323 subscribers in H1 2022.

Airtel recorded 747 losses to other networks in June 2022. MTN lost 237 subscribers to other networks as 297 exited Globacom’s network.

The porting, described by NCC as inward porting into the network of other telecom service providers, expresses dissatisfaction about the quality of service received.

Subscribers porting highlights (September 2021 – June 2022):

  • In September 2021, a total of 2,487 subscribers ported out.
  • In October 2021, a total of 2,258 subscribers were ported.
  • 3,697 subscribers ported in November 2021.
  • In December 2021, a total of 1,828 subscribers ported to other networks.
  • In January 2022, a total of 3,151 telecom subscribers ported.
  • 1,314 telecom subscribers were also ported in February 2022.
  • 2,202 subscribers ported in March 2022.
  • The number reduced to 1,429 in April 2022 but increased to 3,246 in May 2022.
  • June 2022 recorded 2,601.

The data also showed that MTN received the highest number of subscribers that ported into its network, followed by Globacom, Airtel, and 9mobile.

In September 2021, 1,354 ported to MTN, 222 mobile telephone subscribers to 9mobile, and Airtel recorded 909 subscribers. There is no record for Globacom for this month.

In October 2021, MTN recorded 872 subscribers, 2 to Globacom, 128 to 9mobile, and 1,256 to Airtel.

In November 2021, a total of 1,127 subscribers ported from other networks into MTN’s network, while a total of 1,657 subscribers ported from other networks into Globacom’s network.

In the same month, a total of 128 subscribers ported into 9mobile’s network, while a total of 785 subscribers ported into Airtel’s network.

In December 2021, 948 mobile telephone subscribers ported from other networks to MTN’s network, while 173 subscribers ported into Globacom’s network and 212 subscribers ported into 9mobile’s network, while Airtel recorded a total of 495 subscribers that ported into its network within the period. 

Mobile telephone porting activities: H1 2022
Mobile telephone porting activities: H1 2022

In January 2022, a total of 2,482 subscribers ported into MTN’s network and a total of 114 subscribers ported into 9mobile’s network, while a total of 555 subscribers ported into Airtel’s network. Globacom did not record any inward porting within the period.

In February 2022, MTN recorded 716 incoming subscribers, 9mobile recorded 116 incoming subscribers, and Airtel recorded 447 incoming subscribers on its network. Globacom recorded 35.

In March, MTN recorded 1,452 more subscribers from porting, 345 for Globacom, 115 for 9mobile, and 290 for Airtel.

Porting activities: H1 2022
Porting activities: H1 2022

Explaining why MTN maintained the highest number of inward porting into its network, the President, National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS), Deolu Ogunbanjo, said, according to THISDAY, that MTN had maintained a stable network in the past, having invested heavily in infrastructure and emerging technologies, including the fifth generation technology, known as 5G technology.

Every subscriber wants to identify with the network that offers good service quality, hence they are moving to MTN’s network, and this explains the reason why MTN has the largest number of subscribers numbering over 70 million, with a market share of 37.89 per cent.

Deolu Ogunbanjo

Mobile telephone porting in H1 2022

Airtel lost the most subscribers through porting (10,458), followed by 9mobile (8,323), MTN (1,090), and Glo (1,180).

The total subscriber database across the four major networks grew to 206.08 million in H1 2022.

Meanwhile, for H1 2022, telecommunications operators added 8.9 million subscribers to the country’s network.

In January, the country had 197.5 million subscribers; 198.1 million in February; 199.6 million in March; 201.7 million in April; 2014.6 million in May and 206.4 million in June. The country’s telephone density increased within the six months from 103.4% to 108.1% by half of the year.

In other news, in February, the NCC revealed that more Nigerians are becoming less concerned about which network providers they are connected to, as porting experienced a 91.83% drop in 2021. It said that in 2020, a total of 182,958 subscribers, through the mobile number porting service of the NCC, changed their mobile telephone service providers.

The number of subscribers who changed their service providers, however, fell to 14,947 in 2021. The data also showed no porting activities were recorded between January and May. In 2021, 6,380 subscribers switched to MTN Nigeria from other telecom service providers, while 5,437 subscribers switched to Airtel.

1,832 subscribers switched to Globacom while 1,298 subscribers switched to 9mobile.

NCC launched Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in April 2013 so telecom subscribers can port from one network to another with ease, without the cost of buying another SIM card or registering it.

“In furtherance of its efforts to promote competition, improve quality of service and ensure that consumers continue to enjoy a good experience on the mobile networks, the NCC launched mobile number portability service for GSM subscribers in April 2013,” the NCC said.


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