Nigeria’s active voice,internet subscriptions rise, but teledensity lags behind-NCC

Business a.m

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has reported   a steady increase in active voice and internet subscriptions in Nigeria as well as a drop in teledensity, with the statistics  adjusted to reflect the latest population growth figures and align with international best practices.

A statement signed by Reuben Mouka, director of public affairs,NCC,  noted that the adjustments to the commission’s statistical reports were made based on the Nigerian Population Commission’s (NPC) projection of Nigeria’s population at 216,783,381 in 2022, which replaces the previous 2017 projection of 190 million people.

Notably, the consequential adjustment to the NCC’s statistics  was made in accordance with the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) calculation of teledensity. This saw Nigeria’s teledensity decrease from 115.63 per cent to 102.30 per cent in September. Similarly, broadband penetration dropped from 45.47 per cent to 40.85 per cent in September.

While the number of active voice subscriptions increased from 220,361,186 to 221,769,883 from August to September 2023, the increase was only marginal. Likewise, the increase in internet subscriptions, from 159,034,717 to 160,171,757, was also only marginal. 

In October 2023 the industry also experienced a 0.19 per cent growth in active voice subscriptions while teledensity stood at 102.49 per cent with Internet subscriptions increasing by 0.60 per cent compared to September 2023.

In November 2023, there was a 0.46 per cent increase in the number of active voice subscriptions in the telecommunications industry. The industry’s teledensity also saw a 0.57 per cent increase, to 102.97 per cent. Internet subscriptions experienced a similar rise, with a 0.57 per cent increase when compared to October 2023.

Teledensity, as prescribed by the ITU, is a measure of the number of telephone lines per 100 individuals in a population. It is a common measure of telephone penetration, and is often used to assess the level of development of a country’s telecommunications infrastructure.

The NCC’s adjustment to its statistical reports is in line with the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 (NCA 2003), which grants the Commission the authority to monitor and report on the state of the telecommunications industry in Nigeria. The NCA 2003 also requires the Commission to analyze statistics and identify trends in the industry, including those relating to services, tariffs, operators, technology, subscribers, and competition.

Speaking on the matter, Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman of the NCC, stated that the decision to adjust the nation’s telecom statistics was a necessary step to maintain the integrity of data about the Nigerian telecom industry. He noted that this will ensure that the Commission’s progress towards its targets, including increased broadband penetration, improved quality of service, and increased population coverage, is accurately measured.

Maida also highlighted the importance of this adjustment in the context of the strategic plan for the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, which aims to achieve several goals in the Nigerian telecommunications sector.

The NCC EVC explained that the statistical data collected by the NCC is not only used by the Commission, but also by the ITU, development agencies, and other multilateral agencies, as well as investors, operators, and the general public.