Active mobile data subscription slumps, MTN loses the most
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Active mobile data subscriptions across MTN, Glo, Airtel, and 9mobile reached 225.8 million in March but it was a 0.4 per cent decline on February numbers, and subscriptions also reduced by about 2.5 million in April.
Data compiled by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) shows MTN alone lost 2.8 million customers who failed to link their SIMs with their National Identification Numbers (NINs) as mandated by the government.
Teledensity, which measures the number of active telephone connections per 100 residents in an area, also dipped to 117.17 per cent in April from 118.48 per cent in March, according to the NCC.
The regulator says teledensity is calculated based on Nigeria’s population estimate of 190 million.
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MTN losses drag down database
NCC figures show MTN, the largest telecom operator by subscribers, pulled down total industry database with its 2.8 million subscription decline, which reduced total active subscriptions to 88.6 million in April from 91.6 million in March, per reporting by Nairametrics.
However, Glo saw an increase of 128,017 n subscriptions to maintain its position as the second-largest operator by subscriber numbers in April 2023. Glo’s total subscriptions grew from 60.7 million in March to 60.9 million in April.
Airtel also recorded 3,285 new subscriptions in April which increased its total to 60.33 million from 60.32 million in March.
The highest gainer was 9mobile which grew its database by 262,737 in April to raise active subscriptions from 13.1 million in March to 13.4 million in April.
Telephone demand dips 21% worldwide
Telephone shipments have dipped 21 per cent worldwide since 2021, gleaned from an International Data Corporation (IDC) report, which shows shipments dropped 22 per cent from 340 million units in the first quarter of 2021 (Q1 2021) to 268 million in Q1 2023.
The highest shipments in Q1 2021 slashed to 311.2 million units in Q1 2022 and further declined to 268 million units in Q1 2023.
Year-on-year (YoY), global shipments reached 1.67 million units in 2021 but dropped to 1.21 billion units in 2022.
Total smartphone shipments declined 14.6 per cent YoY to 268.6 million units in Q1 2023, the seventh consecutive quarterly decline as the smartphone market struggled with lukewarm demand, inflation, and macro uncertainties.
IDC said the decline was more than the 12.7 per cent it previously estimated.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) in a 2021 report noted that “some experts think that ‘peak smartphone’ is already behind us, market research group IDC remained hopeful for the industry to return to previous heights and even surpass them.”