Telecoms: Nigeria records increasing Active Voice, Internet subscriptions amid low teledensity –NCC

*The Nigerian Communications Commission explains how the country’s telecoms ecosystem has witnessed a steady increase with a marginal growth in Active Voice and Internet subscriptions, as well as a drop in teledensity as of the Third Quarter (Q3) of 2023

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has disclosed the country’s telecoms ecosystem is witnessing a steady increase in active voice and Internet subscriptions, including a drop in teledensity.

The information is contained in the latest telecommunications statistical indicators released by the Nigerian Communications Commission, as the industry regulator, which have been adjusted to reflect the latest population growth figures and align with international best practices.

Telecoms consumers with mobile devices

ConsumerConnect reports Teledensity refers to an index prescribed by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), based in Geneva, Switzerland, for the measurement of telephone penetration in a population by a factor of one line per 100 individuals in the population.

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Mr. Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, in a statement issued Tuesday, January 30, 2024, also noted the adjustment reflected in the telecoms industry statistical reports of September, October, and November 2023 published on the Commission’s Web site, was predicated upon the Nigerian Population Commission’s (NPC) projection of Nigeria’s population at 216,783,381, as of 2022.

The Commission affirmed that the information has replaced “the previously used 2017 projection of 190 million people.”

The Commission also explained with the consequential adjustment, which is “in line with the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) calculation of teledensity”, Nigeria’s teledensity dropped from 115.63 percent to 102.30 percent September last year, while Broadband penetration witnessed a similar drop from 45.47 percent to 40.85 percent in the same month in 2023.

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The NCC, however, stated that the Active Voice subscription statistics witnessed a marginal growth from 220,361,186 to 221,769,883 as of September 2023.

Besides, Internet subscriptions also enjoyed a marginal growth, from 159,034,717 in August 2023 to 160,171,757 in September 2023.

According to the Commission, in October 2023, the telecoms industry also experienced a 0.19 percent growth in Active Voice subscriptions while teledensity stood at 102.49 percent with Internet subscriptions increasing by 0.60 percent compared to September 2023.

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In November of the same year, the industry also experienced a 0.46 percent growth in Active Voice subscriptions. Teledensity stood at 102.97 percent with a 0.57 percent increase in Internet subscriptions when compared to October 2023.

Muoka further said the telecoms sector regulatory Commission’s adjustment was consistent with Section 89 Subsection 3(d) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 (NCA 2003), in which the NCC is mandated to monitor and report on the state of the Nigerian telecommunications industry, provide statistical analysis and identify industry trends concerning services, tariffs, operators, technology, subscribers, and issues of competition.

Rationale for Nigeria’s telecoms statistical adjustment process, by Dr. Maida, EVC/CEO

Speaking on the development, Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NCC, equally affirmed that the Nigeria’s telecoms statistical adjustment process is an appropriate step to maintain the integrity of data about the Nigerian telecom industry as collected, collated, and published by the Commission.

Maida stated this would also ensure the accurate measurement of the Commission’s progress towards attaining increased Broadband penetration rates, improved Quality of Service (QoS), and increased population coverage, among other targets set out in the Strategic Plan for the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.

The EVC/CEO of the Commission further emphasised that such data provides information for both the International Telecommunications Union to which Nigeria belongs, and other development agencies as well as the operators, investors, multilateral agencies, and the general public.