SIM Deactivation: Telecoms Subscriptions Plunge to 219m, Active Internet Users Now 164m

Emma Okonji

It has emerged that the recent decline in the number of telecommunication subscriptions in the country was as a result of the SIM deactivation exercise carried out by telecoms operators on all SIM cards that were not linked to the National Identification Number (NIN) as directed by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

According to the latest statistics released by the Nigerian Communications Commission, telecommunications subscriptions across all networks dropped slightly from 219,970,313, with a teledensity of 101.47 per cent in February 2024, to 219,304,281, with a teledensity of 101.16 per cent in March 2024,

However, the country’s active internet subscriptions increased from 161,977,883 in January 2024 to 163,279,541 in February 2024, before reaching 164,368,292 in March 2024.

President, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere, attributed the development to the SIM deactivation exercise carried out by telecoms operators on all SIM cards that were not properly linked to the NIN of the SIM cardholders.

According to him, millions of SIM cards were deactivated, even though majority of the subscribers had done the NIN-SIM linkage, which unknown to them, had failed due to systems and network issues emanating from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). 

According to statistics obtained from the official website of NCC, telecoms subscriptions had reached 227,179,946 with a teledensity of 119.01 per cent in February 2023, before sliding to 219,304,281, with a teledensity of 101.16 per cent in March 2024.

Analysis of the numbers showed that after reaching 227,179,946 in February 2023, telecoms subscription dropped to 226,161,713 in March 2023, before sliding again to 223,663,521 and 221,258,372 in April and May 2023 respectively. It further dropped to 220,086,951 in June 2023, and rose slightly to 220 860,987 in July 2023, before sliding again to 220,715,961 in August 2023. Telecoms subscriptions however increased to 221,769, 883 in September 2023, with a further increase to 222,188,195; 223,220,009, and 224,713,710 in October, November and December 2023 respectively. Telecoms subscriptions however dropped again to 218,400,965 in January 2024, but it increased slightly to 219, 970,313, with a teledensity of 101.47 per cent in February 2024, before sliding again to 219,304,281 with a teledensity of 101.16 per cent in March 2024.

Further analysis showed that MTN Nigeria is maintaining a lead position with 81 million subscribers and a market share of 37.35 per cent, followed by Airtel Nigeria with 63 million subscribers and a market share of 28.93 per cent, while Globacom comes third with 62 million subscribers and a market share of 28.40 per cent. 9mobile, the last entrant into the GSM market, has 11 million subscribers with a market share of 6.32 per cent. 

The statistics also showed that the total number of active internet subscribers has continued to increase as more Nigerians are connected to the internet, via their mobile phones.

As at September 2023, the total number of active internet subscribers was 160,171,125, but the figure increased to 161,137,357 and 162,060,769 in October and November 2023, before increasing further to 163,838,439 in December 2023.

In January 2024, total number of active internet subscribers stood at 161,977,883 and it increased to 163,279,541 in February 2024, with a further increase to 164,368,292 in March 2024.

Out of the 164 million active internet subscriptions recorded in March 2024, Mobile GSM had the highest number of internet connectivity at 163 million, followed by Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) connectivity at 238,139. Next to VoIP connectivity, is wired and wireless connectivity from Internet Service Providers (ISPs) at 213,876, followed by Fixed Wired connectivity at 21,092. 

Giving reasons for the continuous increase in the number of active internet subscriptions, the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, said the cost of mobile data had continued to drop and that telecoms operators have flexible data plans that allows subscribers to pay for data as low as N50 per day, N100 per week and N1,000 per month, which according to him, has given opportunity to internet subscribers to access the internet anytime while on the go, using their mobile phones and other smart devices.