Joy Agwunobi
Nigeria’s telecommunications industry recorded a sharp rise in mobile number portability in April 2025, with 6,789 subscribers switching networks—more than twice the 3,064 recorded in March.
The figure, released in the updated industry data by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), underscores a growing trend of customers actively seeking better service quality, improved network coverage, and more competitive pricing.
According to the NCC, the increase in portability reflects consumers’ desire for enhanced value and digital experiences. The report reveals that 9mobile and Globacom recorded the highest number of porting activities during the period. In particular, 9mobile continued to experience a sustained exodus of subscribers, reinforcing ongoing concerns about its service reliability.
In April alone, 9mobile lost 5,042 subscribers to other networks. This adds to the 6,716 users who exited the network at the beginning of the year. While its customer base continues to shrink, the network managed to attract only three new users during the month. This imbalance between inbound and outbound subscribers highlights growing dissatisfaction with the network’s performance and user experience.
The NCC report also pointed to porting activity among other operators, albeit on a lesser scale. Globacom saw 1,233 subscribers port out of its network, while it gained 966 new users within the same month.
Airtel Nigeria recorded 295 outbound migrations but welcomed 1,860 new subscribers, indicating a positive net gain. MTN Nigeria, the nation’s largest telecom operator, lost 219 subscribers but received 3,960 new ones, further reinforcing its dominance in the market.
In terms of total active subscriber base, MTN saw its numbers rise significantly. The network, which held 87.5 million subscribers in January 2025, increased its count to 90,508,170 in April, representing a 52.42 percent share of the Nigerian telecom market.
Airtel also recorded an upward movement in subscriber figures, climbing to 58,586,914 users from 57.6 million at the start of the year. The company now holds 33.93 percent of market share.
Globacom experienced modest growth, with its subscriber base increasing to 20,607,726 from 20.5 million, translating to an 11.93 percent share of the market. In contrast, 9mobile continued its downward slide, as its total active subscribers dropped from 3.2 million in January to 2,964,445 in April. This leaves the operator with only 1.72 percent of the market share.
Meanwhile, the industry continues to feel the effects of the 50 percent tariff hike on data, SMS, and voice services approved earlier in the year. While mobile network operators such as MTN and Airtel have reported positive impacts on their revenue performance following the hike, usage data tells a more complex story.
According to the NCC, total data consumption dropped from 1,000,930.60 terabytes in January to 893,054.80 terabytes in February. It rebounded to 995,876.10 terabytes in March before falling again to 983,283.43 terabytes in April, suggesting that consumers are rationing their usage in response to higher costs.
In addition, the commission reported a slight decline in mobile internet subscriptions, which fell to 141,985,207 in April from 142,161,409 in January. Despite this, broadband penetration continued to improve, climbing to 48.15 percent in April, up from 45.61 percent at the start of the year. The growth in broadband access reflects expanding infrastructure and increasing consumer adoption of high-speed internet. As of April, Nigeria had a total of 104,381,796 broadband connections.
The April statistics from the NCC underscore a sector in flux, driven by shifting consumer expectations and competitive pressure among operators. As subscribers become more selective, the emphasis on quality of service, pricing transparency, and network reliability is expected to intensify in the coming months.
