Though Nigeria started 2023 with 226.2 million telephone lines, by year-end, the number dropped to 224.7 million, showing a depletion of about 1.5 million lines out of the networks.

The year 2023 appeared to have been turbulent for telecommunications operators, as statistics showed a monthly reduction in the number of telephone connections.

Subscription statistics from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for December, which completed the year, revealed the trajectory. The new figures were released at the weekend.

Specifically, in January, there were 226 million telephone lines; February, 227 million; March, 226 million; April, 223.6 million; May, 221.2 million and June, 220 million.

Others are July, 220.8 million; August, 220.7 million; September, 221.7 million; October, 222.1 million; November, 223.2 million and December, 224.7 million.

Recall that late January 2024, the regulator, in a statement, explained that it updated telecoms indicator, which affected the country’s teledensity, broadband penetration and other metrics.

NCC noted that the adjustment became necessary to reflect latest population growth figures and align with international best practices. The adjustment reflected in the telecoms industry’s statistical reports for September, October and November 2023, published by the commission, and was predicated upon the Nigerian Population Commission’s (NPC) population projection of 216,783,381 citizens, as of 2022, replacing the previously used 2017 forecast of 190 million people.

Consequently, the updates impacted telephone subscription for the latter part of last year.

Further analysis indicated that Second Generation (2G) network remained dominant technology by ending of last year. It had 57.84 per cent penetration; 4G came second with 31.33 per cent; 3G, 9.80 per cent and 5G, 1.04 per cent.

Amid the economic challenges in the country during the period, Internet subscription witnessed persistent growth to end 2023 with 163.8 million users. Specifically, the GSM players had 163 million; VoIP, 249, 816; Internet Service Providers (ISPs), 213,876 and Fixed Wired, 21,104 customers.

Broadband services also climbed a bit, closing the year with 94.7 million users and 43.71 per cent penetration, as against 90.3 million users and 47.36 per cent recorded in 2022. It should be noted that the rebased indicator by NCC was responsible for the difference in growth.

Additionally, Nigerians are consuming more data. The statistics showed that by the end of last year, data consumption was 713,200.6 terabytes. In January 2023, it was 517,670.15 terabytes. In April, Nigerians consumed 655,879.86 terabytes of data, by September, it dropped to 653,257.86 and 645, 407.1 in November.
  
Nigeria’s teledensity, which was also impacted by the update by NCC, leapt to 103.66 per cent. It was 102.97 per cent in November and 102.49 per cent in October.

Teledensity is an index prescribed by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for the measurement of telephone penetration in a population by a factor of one line per 100 individuals. 

The data showed that MTN consolidated its position as the largest operator in Nigeria during the period under review. The telecommunications firm ended last year with 87 million users and 38.79 per cent penetration. Airtel had 61.8 million customers and 27.55 per cent market reach; Globacom with 27.45 per cent penetration, serviced 61.6 million users and 9mobile, with 6.21 per cent spread, had 13.9 million subscribers.