February 4, 2025/CSL Research
Data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) shows a notable year-on-year decline in active mobile subscriptions in 2024. The total number of active subscriptions dropped by 59.79 million, or 26.61%, decreasing to 164.93 million in 2024 from 224.71 million in 2023. However, on a month-on-month basis, there was a slight increase, with subscriptions rising by 3.17%, from 159.85 million in November 2024 to 164.93 million in December 2024.
The data indicates that the country added 5.07 million subscribers in December, suggesting that telecom companies are gradually recovering from the effects of the NIN-SIM debacle on mobile subscriber numbers.
MTN, the largest operator by subscriber base, saw a month-on-month increase of 3.38 million subscribers, bringing its total to 84.61 million in December, up from 81.22 million in November. Airtel, the second-largest operator by subscriber count, gained 1.19 million subscribers, bringing its total active lines to 56.62 million from 55.43 million the previous month. Globacom, the third-largest operator, saw a modest rise, gaining 497,968 subscribers, which brought its total to 20.14 million from 19.64 million in November.
9mobile’s subscriber numbers remained unchanged at 3.28 million, the same figure as the previous month. Nigeria’s teledensity, which measures active telephone connections per 100 inhabitants, increased from 73.74% in November to 76.08% in December 2024. Broadband penetration also rose marginally to 44.13% from 43.16% during the same period.
With the NIN-SIM linkage process now completed, and all active SIM cards in Nigeria verified and linked to valid National Identification Numbers, as confirmed by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), we expect the gradual recovery in mobile subscription numbers to continue in 2025 as affected users reactivate previously barred lines. Our outlook for Nigeria’s telecommunications sector in 2025 remains highly optimistic, driven by several key factors including a recovery in mobile subscription numbers, tariff increases, expansion of 4G and 5G networks, increased broadband penetration, and the continued transition from an analog to a digital model.
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