Per reports from the Nigerian Communications Commission, the month of July saw telecommunications companies adding 195,313 new subscribers to their ranks.
The total number of registered users in the telecommunications industry was 187,275,547 in June. By the next month, the number had increased to 187,470,860. The telecommunications industry had experienced a significant reduction of new subscribers in recent months due to the SIM card ban implemented by the federal government. However, since the effect of the ban began to reduce significantly, Telecommunications services saw an increase in the number of subscribers between June and July.
Recall that the Federal Government banned the sale of SIM cards in December last year, and imposed a December 30 deadline for National Identity Number (NIN) registration/linking. In April 2021, the Federal Government approved the sale of new SIM cards but subscribers must link the SIM cards to their NIN.
Although the telecommunications industry experienced a growth in the number of SIM card subscribers between June and July, it also experienced a significant decrease in the number of internet users. Between June and July, the number of internet subscribers decreased from 139,814,913 to 139,384,180. Furthermore, broadband penetration also decreased from 39.97 percent to 39.79 percent.
The number of subscribers that migrated from one telecommunications company to another in July was 734. In June, 616 subscribers ported to other networks. Therefore, July saw more users switching between two telecommunications companies.
Per multiple reports, there will likely be a continued increase in the number of new telecommunications subscribers in the coming months, due to the relaxation of the ban imposed on SIM cards by the Federal Government last year.
