Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-02-19 04:14:27
In the year 2023, Nigeria faced significant turbulence in the telecommunications sector, which resulted in a drop in telephone connections by about 1.5 million lines. The year began with 226.2 million telephone lines, but it ended with only 224.7 million, indicating a monthly reduction in the number of telephone connections, as per the statistics released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for December. This reduction was observed consistently throughout the year, with January starting at 226 million telephone lines and December ending at 224.7 million.
Late January 2024, the NCC updated its telecoms indicator to reflect the latest population growth figures and align with international best practices. This change was necessary due to the updated population projection of 216,783,381 citizens, as of 2022. Accordingly, this update impacted telephone subscriptions for the latter part of 2023.
Despite the economic challenges in Nigeria during this period, Internet subscription witnessed persistent growth, ending 2023 with 163.8 million users. Broadband services also saw a slight increase, closing the year with 94.7 million users and 43.71 per cent penetration. However, the rebased indicator was responsible for the difference in growth in the broadband penetration rate.
The data also revealed a significant increase in data consumption by Nigerians. By the end of 2023, data consumption had reached 713,200.6 terabytes, indicating a substantial increase from the previous year. This reflects the growing demand for data services in Nigeria.
In addition to telephone subscriptions and data consumption, the teledensity of Nigeria also saw a significant increase, leaping to 103.66 per cent by the end of the year. Teledensity is an index that measures telephone penetration in a population by a factor of one line per 100 individuals, as prescribed by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
The telecommunications firm MTN consolidated its position as the largest operator in Nigeria during the period, ending the year with 87 million users and 38.79 percent penetration. Airtel followed with 61.8 million customers and 27.55 percent market reach, while Globacom and 9mobile had 27.45 percent and 6.21 percent penetration, respectively.
Overall, the telecommunications sector in Nigeria experienced fluctuations in telephone connections, Internet and broadband penetration, and data consumption throughout the year 2023. The impact of the updated telecoms indicator, economic challenges, and changing consumer behavior contributed to these observed changes. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be essential for stakeholders to monitor and address these fluctuations to ensure the provision of reliable and accessible telecommunications services to the Nigerian population.
