CEM REPORT | Nigerian telecom companies expanded their active voice telephone subscriber base by 7.85 million in the last three quarters of 2021 spread among the 6 zones and 36 States of the country including the FCT.
This is according to the Telecoms Data on Active Voice and Internet per State, Porting and Tariff Information for Q2, Q3 & Q4 of 2021 released by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics.
According to the data, a total of 7,852,397 was acquired by the four telecom providers in the country which are MTN, Glo, Airtel and 9Mobile. This figure was a decline from 8,358,857 subscribers acquired in the period of 2020
The data from NBS shows that the rate of increase in internet users was higher in 2020 than in 2021 and in overall, more people were active on the internet in 2020 than in 2021. Subscribers active on the Internet increased by 1,796,391 2021 representing a decrease of 83.16% from 10,664,379 growth in 2020
The data shows that a total of 187,611,501 subscribers were active on voice as against 196,242,456 in Q2 2020. This represents a 4.4% decrease in voice subscriptions Year-on-Year. Quarter-on-Quarter growth was -2.50%. Similarly, a total of 140,175,169 subscribers were active on the internet as against 143,636,816 in Q2 2020. This represents a 2.41% decrease in internet subscriptions Year-on-Year.
In Q3 2021, a total of 190,854,069 subscribers were active on voice as against 205,252,058 in Q3 2020. This represents a 7.0% decrease in voice subscriptions Year-on-Year. Quarter-on-Quarter growth was 1.73%. A total of 140,275,459 subscribers were active on the internet as against 151,512,122 in Q3 2020. This represents a 7.42% decrease in internet subscriptions Year-on-Year.
In Q4 2021, a total of 195,463,898 subscribers were active on voice as against 204,601,313 in Q4 2020. This represents a 4.5% decrease in voice subscriptions Year-on-Year. Quarter-on-Quarter growth was 2.42%. Similarly, a total of 141,971,560 subscribers were active on the internet as against 154,301,195 in Q4 2020. This represents a 7.99% decrease in internet subscriptions Year-on-Year.
By State, Lagos State had the highest number of subscribers in terms of active voice per State in the Q2, Q3 and Q4 2021, followed by Kano State and Ogun State, while Bayelsa and Ebonyi States had the least number of subscribers.
MTN had the highest share of subscriptions in Q2, Q3, and Q4 2021 followed by Glo. While Airtel followed Glo closely, 9mobile trailed behind.
