Connected phone lines reach 301m, but 97m dormant
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Telephone lines connected to mobile networks reached 301.5 million in May, counting Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs) issued by the four major carriers – MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9Mobile.
Only 204.2 million lines are in active use, however, according to Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) data. Meaning 97.3 million lines are inactive.
The NCC classifies a mobile line as inactive if it is not used by the subscriber to make or receive calls and/or access data services for a minimum 90 days.
Such lines are separated from active ones as they generate no revenue for telecom operators in the period.
In effect, telephone networks generated revenue from only 68 per cent of their customers in May.
__________________________________________________________________
Related articles:
Phone subscribers notch 204m, MTN retains lead
NIN-SIM hassle stops 51m lines from doing business
Internet expansion squeezing telecom operators
__________________________________________________________________
Inactive lines declining
Although the number of inactive lines across the networks is still high, the figure has come down significantly in the past 10 months, from 139 million in August 2021, according to NCC figures, per reporting by Nairametrics.
Telecom operators always have inactive lines alongside increase in active users and new activations.
But the ban on new SIM registration and the inability of many subscribers to retrieve their lines between 9 December 2020 and 19 April 2021 made the situation worse as inactive lines piled up each month.
The gradual reduction in the number of inactive lines is partly attributable to a new SIM policy introduced by the NCC.
The NCC in its management policy recently introduced declared that subscribers whose lines have been inactive for 12 months would forfeit them.
“Subscriber numbers that have not generated revenue by originating calls will automatically be recovered after 12 consecutive months,” the NCC said.
MTN maintains lead
NCC data shows that MTN, the largest operator by subscriber number, gained 1.5 million new subscriptions in May and raised its total active customer database to 77.7 million from 76.2 million in April.
Airtel added 1.3 million new subscriptions to retain its position as the second-largest operator with its active customer database rising to 57.6 million in May from 56.2 million in April.
Globacom grew its customers by 86,145 to bring its total to 56.2 million in May from 56.1 million in April.
But 9mobile recorded a loss, as its customer database dipped by 79,845 to 12.6 million.