Mobile phone subscribers do not reflect true phone penetration
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
There are now 197.5 million active telephone users, and among them internet 143.7 million subscribers, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); but the numbers do not reflect true telephone or internet penetration.
Nigeria has a population of 206 million and most telephone users have dual SIM handsets with which they acquire two telephone numbers from the same telecom operator or from two. Some also have more than one handset with dual sims.
In practice, a telephone user may have more than two lines.
NCC Executive Vice Chairman Umar Garba Danbatta disclosed at the 33rd Enugu International Trade Fair in Enugu both the telephone and internet figures, adding that internet penetration is 41.61 per cent.
“In this new environment, the competitiveness of Nigeria and ability to open up the business environment to more global opportunities, depends on the ability of local players to leverage new technologies in their businesses,” said Danbatta, who was represented by NCC Enugu Zonal Controller Ogbonnaya Ugama.
He reiterated the commitment of the NCC to protecting and empowering consumers against unfair practices by service providers.
He said the assurance is based on the regulatory mandate of the NCC to ensure consumers of telecommunication services get value for their money and are treated right as very important stakeholders.
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5G deployment
Danbatta disclosed that NCC is about to deployment Fifth Generation (5G) network and the spectrum licences have been issued to telecom operators.
“Though the deployment will start from the state capital and gradually extends to other areas across the state, it is important to state that unlike 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G, the 5G network will bring substantial network improvements, including higher connection speed, among others,” he said, per The Nation.
As a consumer-focused public sector institution, Danbatta stressed, the NCC will continue to provide a level playing field for operators to thrive, as well as promote investment and delivery of innovative services to consumers.
