COVID-19: Telecom operators record meteoric rise in the volume of business

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3 years ago Managing Editor: Akin Kola-Akinlade

In Nigeria, new telephone lines totalling 4.2 million were connected in the month of August, thus raising active mobile telephone subscribers’ base to 203.5 million.

Also, the teledensity rose by 2.2 per cent to 106 .6 per cent, from 104.4 per cent in the preceding month of July. These statistics were released by the Nigerian Telecommunication Commission, NCC.

NCC also revealed that subscription data for the month of August recorded an improvement in Internet usage as it recorded over two million new people using their phones to access the internet.

In comparison, the figure rose from 146 million in July to 149 million in the month under review. Broadband also rose, as penetration hit 43.3 per cent, and some 82 million Nigerians now benefit from high-speed Internet.

Further to the NCC statistics, 9Mobile attracted more subscribers with the acquisition of four million fresh customers between June and August. Thus recorded market penetration of 6.09 per cent, as the telecom firm now boasts of 12.4 million users.

On the other hand, Globacom and Airtel were in supremacy battle as the newest data rated Airtel higher, having 54.8 million subscribers and 26.96 per cent market reach while Globacom had 52.9 million users and 26.1 per cent penetration.

MTN remained the largest operator both by penetration and market share. As at August, the South African telecoms firm had a 40.9 per cent penetration and served 83 million Nigerians.