Data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission, today, has revealed that Nigeria’s total mobile internet subscribers climbed to 119,506,430 subscribers in April 2019, up from the 115,938,225 obtained in March 2019.
The data shows that during the period, a total of 3,568,205 new mobile internet subscribers were added to the subscriber base in the country’s telecoms sector. This indicates about 3.1% increase from the March figure to the current figure of 119.5 million subscribers.
The data further revealed that Airtel, MTN, and Globacom gained more subscribers to their networks. 9mobile, on the other hand, lost some customers to emerge the highest loser.
source: NCC
Analysing the Market Data: Airtel has 26% market share in Nigeria which accounts for over 45.4 million subscribers on the network.
Nigeria’s telecommunication giant, MTN, which has the largest market share of 37%, boasts of over 64.7 million active subscribers. This figure is not inclusive of the 117 thousand subscribers owned by Visafone, which was purchased by MTN in 2015 translating to a 1% market share by the visafone network.
Also, Nigeria’s indigenous mobile network, Globacom, boasts of a 27% market share which is over 46.38 million active subscribers, while 9mobile boasts of a subscriber base of 16.72million with a 9% market share.
9mobile dropped for the 23rd month consecutively to 9.44 million mobile internet subscribers data on the network. The data shows that subscribers from the network are seeking alternatives to durability and service quality. However, Mtn continued to maintain its lead in the industry with over 50 million mobile internet subscribers. Airtel and Globacom also had a positive add up to 31 millon and 28 million respectively.
With keen competition in the industry coupled with the strive to deliver effective and top services to customers, the market has continued to accommodate more subscribers in nigeria from the total estimated 190 population.
Contribution to GDP: The data, as released by the apex telecoms regulator, highlights that the industry contributed about 10.1% to Nigeria’s gross domestic product during the first quarter of 2019. This is a 0.26% point more than the figure (9.85%) recorded in the last quarter and 0.92% points increase when compared to the first quarter of the previous year.
What this means is that the industry is experiencing a boom with MTN cashing out the most. The figure is coming just a few months after MTN floated its shares on the local exchange market, making it the second most valuable company in Nigeria after Dangote Cement Plc.
Analysts have since called on other networks to follow in MTN’s footstep by listing their shares on the Nigerian bourse. Though, Airtel has submitted a file to list on the London Stock exchange.
