MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Glo Mobile, 9Mobile, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and other telecoms operators made a revenue of N2.88 trillion, up from N2.516 trillion recorded in 2019. This represents a 12.6% increase.
This was disclosed by the Nigerian Communications Commission in its 2020 Subscribers/Network Data Report, which was released recently.
According to the report, GSM firms made N2.26 trillion, up from N2.02 trillion in 2019 as revenue, followed by Other Telecom Operators that made N534.69 billion as revenue in 2021, up from N437.49 billion. The ISPs recorded N68.96 billion in 2021 (from N53,74 billion), while Fixed Operators made N8.43 billion (from N6.04 billion).
“Findings indicate that revenue increased from N2.516 Trillion in year 2019 to N2.880 Trillion as at the end of Year 2020. This represents a 12.63% increase in revenue Year on Year. (This collation was based on the submissions received).
“The global pandemic altered the way and manner business activities were hitherto carried out globally. Year 2020 witnessed a significant surge in data usage. That perhaps reflected the industry performance for the year 2020 which challenged the global telecom industry generally and Nigerians particularly. The number of Internet Subscribers increased from 135,743,324 subscription as at March 2020 to 154,437,623 Subscriptions as at November 2020, representing an increase of 13.77%.
“Data usage also increased from 147,537.52TB to 196,163.42TB within the same period. Broadband penetration continued to increase within the year 2020 reaching a peak of 45.93%. The Nigerian Telecom Industry witnessed significant growth that impacted positively in spite of the recession brought about by the COVID-19. The sector lifted the economy out of recession in the fourth quarter of 2020, contributing 12.45% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” the report stated.
Staff strength
The total number of staff for responsive licensees at year-end 2020 stood at 14,986, up from the 14,828 staff recorded in 2019.
“The total number of Staff reported by MTN, GLO, Airtel, EMTS, Smile and Ntel as at December 2020 was a total of 7,576; 195 expatriates and 7,381 Nigerians. Further breakdown of this category reveals that 4,843 of the Nigerian Staff are Male while 2,538 are female. Similarly, 191 are male expatriates and 4 are female expatriates,” the report said..
Towers across states
The report revealed that the top five states with highest number of towers are Lagos – 5,686; Ogun – 1,834; Rivers – 1,720; FCT – 1,495 and Oyo – 1,761; while the states with the least number of base stations are: Jigawa – 329; Ebonyi – 311; Zamfara – 248; Gombe 295 – and Yobe- 248.
However, in 2019, the number of towers in Lagos was 9,860; Ogun – 3,398; Rivers – 3,329; FCT – 3,034 and Oyo – 2,842; while the states with the least number of base stations were: Jigawa – 316; Yobe – 422; Zamfara – 434; Gombe 521 – and Kebbi – 561.
What it means
The number of existing base stations in the country invariably affects the quality of service (QOS) within the country, thereby positively impacting the level of telephone penetration within the nation, which equates to attracting foreign investment and growth in the telecoms industry. But the drop in the number of towers can be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to lockdown and increasing insecurity issues in the country.
In case you missed it
The National Bureau of Statistics’ Gross Domestic Product Report had revealed that the information and communication sector grew by 13.8% in full-year 2020, compared to 11.08% recorded in 2019 and 9.65% in 2018, according to Nairametrics.
The information and communication sector comprises four activities: Telecommunications and Information Services, Publishing, Motion Picture, Sound Recording, and Music Production, and Broadcasting.
The sector recorded a growth rate of 14.95% in real terms, year on year, an increase of 6.45% points over the corresponding period of 2019.
Telecommunications & Information Services grew by 17.64% in Q4 2020 compared to 17.36% in Q3 2020 and 10.26% in Q4 2019. The sector also grew by 15.9% in full-year 2020 from 11.41% in 2019 and 11.33% in 2018.
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