MTN gains most subscribers, Glo attracts least
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
MTN gained most subscribers who switched to and from network operators as the number rose 30 per cent in first eight months of 2022 (8M 2022), according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Data published on NCC website shows 2,389 subscribers ported in 8M 2022 against 1,828 in 8M 2021, an increase of 561 or 30 per cent.
MTN gained 1,617 customers from other networks, Airtel (387), 9mobile (279), and Glo (106).
Overall, the number of subscribers who switched operators rose 100 per cent to 13,985 in the first quarter of 2022 (Q1 2022), according to NCC data.
In Q1 2021, no subscriber left their operator, called outward porting.
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Total losses by carrier
The NCC defines outward porting as “the number of numbers ported to another service provider’s network from a service provider’s own network.”
Airtel lost a total 10,023 subscribers in 8M 2022, 9mobile (2,930), MTN (582), and Glo (450), per reporting by The PUNCH.
The NCC in December 2020 directed telecommunication companies to suspend the sale, registration, and activation of new SIM cards, which impacted porting activities as subscribers could not switch service providers.
Subscribers change networks while retaining their numbers because of poor service quality offerings by their original service providers.
The NCC launched this service, known as mobile number portability, nine years ago.
“In furtherance of its efforts to promote competition, improve quality of service and ensure that consumers continue to enjoy a good experience on the mobile networks, the NCC launched mobile number portability service for GSM subscribers in April 2013,” the regulator explained at the time.
Airtel loses 11,834 subscribers, the most via porting
Mobile telephone operators lost 22,315 subscribers between them in the first six months of the year (H1 2022) as customers seeking better service switched providers in an increasingly competitive market.
Airtel lost the most through porting (11,834), followed by 9mobile (8,207), MTN (1,162), and Glo (1,112), according to data released by the NCC.
Total porting in H1 2021 was 702. Meaning 21,613 more subscribers switched networks in H1 2022.
But total subscriber database across the four major networks grew to 206.08 million in H1 2022.