Nigeria’s telecom sector loses 24.6 million subscribers in 1 year

• Nigeria’s telecommunications sector lost 24.6 million subscribers in one year from 163.8 million in 2023 to 139.2 million in 2024
• Mobile data consumption increased despite the drop in subscribers
• MTN continued to dominate the industry as it accounts for 51.39 per cent of the market with 84.6 million subscribers

Between 2023 and 2024, Nigeria’s telecommunications sector lost 24.6 million subscribers as the number of active internet users decreased from 163.8 million in 2023 to 139.2 million in 2024.

According to the latest data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the decline was primarily driven by the deactivation of SIM cards not linked to verifiable National Identity Numbers (NINs) and the correction of discrepancies by mobile network operators.

Also, the NCC tightened its active user criteria by insisting on only those users actively engaging in revenue-generating activities such as purchasing data, airtime, or making calls, as active subscribers.

The data further shows that active telephone connections also fell by 26.6 per cent from 224.7 million in 2023 to 164.9 million in 2024.

As a result of the decrease, teledensity, which measures the number of active telephone lines per 100 people, fell from 103 per cent to 76.1 per cent, an indication of a major contraction in telecom penetration across the country.  

Mobile data consumption surged

According to the data, mobile data consumption surged despite the drop in subscribers, increasing from 713,200 terabytes in 2023 to 973,445 terabytes in 2024.

The surge in data consumption indicates that while fewer people are using mobile networks, those who remain are consuming more data.

This may not be unconnected to faster internet speeds, increased video streaming, remote work, and a growing digital economy.  

Market share among telecom companies

As analysed by market share, the data shows that MTN continued to dominate the industry. The telco accounts for 51.39 per cent of the market with 84.6 million subscribers as of December 2024.

Airtel followed with 56.6 million subscribers, representing 34.3 per cent of the market share. Globacom accounts for 12.2 per cent, while 9mobile has 1.9 per cent of the market share.

4G overtakes 2G internet

According to the NCC’s data, 4G internet overtook 2G in penetration for the first time. 4G internet reached 42.7 per cent of total internet users, 2G had 41.5 per cent, 3G reached nine per cent of internet users, and 5G remained the least adopted at 2.3 per cent.

The adoption of 5G internet rose steadily throughout the year, although it is still in its early stages.

Also, broadband penetration reached 44.43 per cent as of 2024, with 96.3 million Nigerians having access, up from 94.7 million the previous year.

The figure is however a 25.5 per cent shortfall from the NCC’s 70 per cent broadband penetration target set for the end of 2025.

With the current average monthly growth rate of per cent, the NCC may find it challenging to achieve the target. This can however be accelerated with the planned 90,000 km expansion of Nigeria’s broadband network.

NCC says Nigeria’s mobile subscription hit 157.3 million in October

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said Nigeria’s mobile subscriptions increased to 157.3 million in October 2024 from 154.6 million in September.

According to the NCC, the country’s mobile subscriptions grew by 2.69 million in one month, driven by an increase in MTN and Airtel's subscriber bases.