On Starlink’s portal, neighbourhoods such as Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lagos Island, Surulere, and several estates in Abuja now carry a bold “Sold Out” notice. 

Users attempting to subscribe are prompted to pay a deposit to secure a place in line. A message displayed to applicants in Chevyville Estate, Lekki, reads: “Starlink service is currently at capacity in your area. However, the good news is you can still place a deposit now to reserve your spot on the waitlist and receive a notification as soon as service becomes available again.”

In November 2024, Starlink also suspended nationwide sales for almost eight months, pointing to bandwidth shortages and unresolved disputes with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over tariff approvals. 

New activations only resumed in June 2025, after the company secured regulatory clearance and upgraded parts of its infrastructure.

An engineer working with Starlink, who spoke to TechCabal, explained the reasoning behind the pause: “It happens when the area cannot take a new customer due to its designed capacity at the time. This also ensures optimal network connectivity for the other users within the same geographical area.” 

Expanding this capacity, he added, often requires either new satellite launches or regulatory permissions to build more ground infrastructure.

High Costs and Shrinking Base

Starlink’s service has become more expensive since its 2022 entry into Nigeria. The monthly subscription has climbed from around ₦38,000 to nearly ₦56,000 by 2025, with hardware kits priced between ₦300,000 and ₦670,000 depending on the model. The company blamed the naira’s depreciation, operating costs, and compliance with NCC regulations.

The hikes triggered strong complaints from users. In October 2024, the NCC sanctioned Starlink for unauthorised increases, noting breaches of Sections 108 and 111 of the Nigerian Communications Act. The regulator forced a rollback from ₦75,000 to ₦38,000 monthly before eventually approving moderated adjustments in early 2025.

But the damage was already visible. NCC data shows active Starlink subscribers fell from 65,564 in Q4 2024 to 59,509 in Q1 2025, a 9% drop and the company’s first decline in Nigeria since launch. Analysts pointed to high tariffs, economic hardship, and service delays from capacity freezes as key drivers of the fall.

Network Quality Under Scrutiny

Even with over 6.2 million global users as of July 2025 and more than 900 satellites launched this year, Starlink’s speeds in Nigeria remain below regional averages. Reports place its Nigerian download speeds at 49.6 Mbps, significantly lower than Botswana’s 106.4 Mbps. Experts attribute the gap to fewer satellites serving Nigeria, overcrowded cells in major cities, and a limited number of terrestrial Points of Presence.

Alternatives Emerging

While Starlink remains Nigeria’s largest satellite internet provider, its difficulties have opened room for competitors. YahClick, supported by Nigerian ISPs, offers plans from ₦25,000 per month. Tizeti has rolled out solar-powered broadband at ₦5,000 monthly, targeting underserved communities. Eutelsat Konnect, though pricier at $18,500 per month, promises up to 100 Mbps speeds.

Starlink’s issues in Nigeria is a pattern across Africa. Countries such as Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have also faced pauses in urban areas where demand has outpaced available capacity. Yet, Nigeria’s sheer scale, driven by remote work, e-learning, and video streaming, means that congestion here poses a sharper challenge.

Thousands of Nigerian households are now on waiting lists, uncertain when—or if—Starlink will open the door again.

The exercise is scheduled for Saturday, August 24, 2025, between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. MTN disclosed that 101 sites across 15 Local Government Areas will be affected while engineers switch traffic to a new fibre route along the AFCOT–Bawo Village axis in Adamawa State.

“Due to the linear and unprotected nature of the route, services will be interrupted during the maintenance window. The work will be carried out during daylight hours for security reasons,” the company said in a notice to customers.

The disruption will hit users of 2G, 3G, and 4G networks, including about 10 enterprise clients. Areas affected include Girei, Song, Mubi North, Hong, Gombi, Fufore, Mubi South, Madagali, Michika, Maiha, Chibok, and Yola North in Adamawa; Askira/UBA and Shani in Borno; and Nasarawa in Kano.

MTN has apologised to its subscribers but stressed that the upgrade is necessary to restore stability and improve service quality across the corridor.

The planned downtime reveals a much bigger issue in Nigeria’s telecom industry, the high cases of fibre cuts. Network operators lose billions of naira yearly to these incidents, which continue to paralyse services nationwide.

Airtel Nigeria’s Director of Corporate Communications and CSR, Femi Adeniran, recently warned: “On average, operators report multiple incidents daily, disrupting services to millions of Nigerians. Airtel Nigeria alone records a daily average of 43 fibre cuts and in the last six months, a total of 7,742.”

He explained that most of the damage comes from road construction, vandalism, and poor coordination among agencies. The impact goes far beyond dropped calls; businesses, government institutions, and even emergency services are affected whenever cables are tampered with.

National Security Threat

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has confirmed that operators now report around 1,100 fibre cuts every week. This scale of disruption recently triggered simultaneous blackouts for MTN and 9mobile in Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara States after cuts occurred on both networks on 29 May.

NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida, has called the trend alarming and revealed that the Commission has launched a “multi-pronged strategy” involving technical enforcement, security collaboration, and public awareness.

President Bola Tinubu has also declared telecom infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII)under the Cybersecurity Act, making its protection a matter of national security.

The MTN fibre maintenance in the North-East may only last two hours, but it is a nationwide problem that continues to threaten Nigeria’s digital economy. Without stronger safeguards and coordination, fibre cuts will remain a recurring nightmare for millions of subscribers.

Statistics released by the NCC show internet users dropped from 142.16 million in January to 141.25 million in February, with only a partial rebound to 142.05 million in March.

That dip in users came alongside a plunge in data consumption. Monthly usage fell by 12%, down from January’s all-time high of one exabyte to 893.06 petabytes in February. 

Though it climbed to 995.88 petabytes in March, that recovery didn’t undo the damage. Nigerians were rationing data. Prices had simply gone too high.

Despite that pullback, telecom operators somehow added 3.39 million new telephone lines between January and March. This brought the total number of active lines to 172.71 million and lifted teledensity to 79.67%. So while people may be speaking more, they are browsing less.

At the top of the pile, MTN Nigeria continues to thrive. With 75.62 million internet subscribers and 90.5 million active lines, MTN now commands over half of the mobile market. 

Airtel seconds with 58.3 million lines, Globacom has 20.7 million, and 9mobile has just 2.9 million.

Nowhere is this collapse more apparent than at 9mobile. In just two months, February and March 2025, the operator lost 318,825 subscribers. It now holds just 1.72% of the market. 

This comes as no surprise to those who have watched the company deteriorate. Customers continue to complain about poor signal, slow internet speeds, and frequent network failures. Internal investments have stalled, and retention efforts have fizzled.

Behind closed doors, 9mobile has been counting on a national roaming agreement with MTN to fix its problems. The deal would allow it to tap into MTN’s vast infrastructure, boosting its network reach and improving service quality. 

The partnership has been technically structured and commercially agreed. But it remains stuck at the regulatory level.

The NCC, which must approve the deal, is still conducting reviews. These include assessing the impact on competition, evaluating spectrum-sharing terms, and ensuring alignment with national broadband goals. The review timeline usually spans up to 12 weeks, but every delay eats into 9mobile’s relevance.

According to one industry executive familiar with the matter, “The NCC is delaying because it knows a deal gives the other party (MTN Nigeria) the upper hand. They know what it means for MTN to get its hands on 9mobile’s spectrum.”

This spectrum includes the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz bands—valuable assets in an industry where infrastructure is everything. If MTN absorbs them, it could widen the already gaping divide between itself and every other operator.

Porting data reveals where the trust lies. Between February and March, MTN gained 4,855 new users who migrated from rival networks. In contrast, 9mobile saw 5,809 users leave, and only three joined its network during that period. The bleeding is constant. And without the roaming deal, there’s no bandage in sight.

It wasn’t always like this. When 9mobile operated as Etisalat Nigeria in 2015, it had over 23 million subscribers. Today, it has less than three million. That’s a 90% collapse in less than a decade. And yet, the company still hasn’t hit bottom.

The NCC hasn’t commented publicly on the status of the roaming application. MTN, too, has remained silent. But from inside the industry, the stakes are understood. 

Until the NCC makes a call, 9mobile remains in limbo. Every day without regulatory approval is another day closer to losing customers, with internet users sliding backwards. 

The forthcoming Summit, themed _”CNII: Strengthening Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure through Proactive Implementation and Strategic Coordination,”_ will bring together key players in the telecom industry, regulatory bodies, and government agencies to brainstorm on pressing infrastructure safety concerns.

The move is prompted by the recent designation of telecom facilities as critical national assets under the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Order, signed by President Bola Tinubu in August 2024.

Industry stakeholders have long expressed concerns over the vulnerability of telecom assets to attacks, vandalism, theft, and arbitrary shutdowns, resulting in significant annual losses and disruptions to telecommunications services.

Omobayo Azeez, Lead Executive of PIAFo, emphasised the importance of safeguarding the telecom sector, citing its crucial role in facilitating cross-industry linkages, efficiency, and productivity.

“The telecom sector is the live wire of the Nigerian economy. If it’s not well-protected, all other sectors will feel the ripples,” Azeez warned, recalling the nationwide telecom service disruption in March 2024 caused by undersea cable cuts with attendant economic losses estimated at $593.6 million.

Azeez highlighted the alarming frequency of fibre cuts, with over 50,000 incidents recorded in 2024 alone, resulting in service blackouts and significant repair costs.

“In 2023, operators reported spending over N35 billion to repair and replace installed fibre cables that were destroyed. This is a fortune that could have been otherwise committed to infrastructure expansion to improve quality of service,” he added.

To prevent a repeat of such incidents, PIAFo is championing a collaborative approach to infrastructure safety, promoting awareness, inclusivity, and partnerships with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the agency tasked to implement the order, as well as other stakeholders.

The Summit, scheduled for March 20, 2025, at the Bon Hotel Ikeja Residence in Lagos, will feature expert discussions and presentations from invited speakers, including representatives from ONSA, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB) and the Federal Ministry of Works (FMoW).

Other speakers include data centre operators, infrastructure companies (Infracos), Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), tower companies (Towercos), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), telecom lawyers, chiefs of security outfits, and State infrastructure regulatory agencies.

The event has also been endorsed by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) and the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).

By convening this critical midpoint engagement platform, PIAFo aims to facilitate a comprehensive and inclusive approach to implementing the CNII Order, ensuring the long-term protection and growth of Nigeria’s telecom sector.

This initiative, led by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), seeks to simplify access to public services through a unified digital platform.

Kashifu Inuwa, director-general of NITDA, recently discussed the plan during a meeting with officials from the Ukrainian Embassy in Nigeria. He revealed that the agency is developing an online portal where Nigerians can access various government services, including tax payments, licence renewals, international passport applications, healthcare, and social benefits. 

The goal is to eliminate the fragmented structure that currently hampers efficiency in government operations.

Inuwa explained that Nigeria has been studying successful e-governance models from other nations, particularly the United Kingdom and Kenya. He noted that while these models may not be directly transferable, they offer valuable insights that can be adapted to suit Nigeria’s unique challenges.

“We have been doing research on how the UK, Kenya and other countries have achieved this, so I believe we can learn from you as well to see how we can build our own,” Inuwa stated. 

He emphasised the importance of enacting necessary laws to support the transition, noting that some nations operate through Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) while others use government-mandated digital platforms.

Expanding Digital Access to Local Governments

Beyond federal-level digitisation, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, has outlined plans to integrate all 774 local government headquarters into the digital framework by 2027. 

This initiative aims to extend digital public infrastructure to underserved areas, ensuring that government services become more accessible nationwide.

An aspect of this plan is improving internet connectivity at the local government level. Reliable internet access is expected to enhance service delivery in key sectors such as healthcare, education, social welfare, and infrastructure development.

Overcoming Past Setbacks

This is not Nigeria’s first attempt at implementing a comprehensive e-governance strategy. The government previously introduced the e-Government Masterplan in 2019 and launched the OneGov.net initiative to unify public services. 

However, these initiatives were challenged with inadequate infrastructure, inconsistent regulatory frameworks, and technical limitations. As a result, progress was slow, and many initiatives failed to gain traction.

Addressing the Connectivity Gap

One of the major obstacles to successful e-governance in Nigeria is poor connectivity. Reuben Oshomah, regional director at Avanti Satellite, pointed out that broadband penetration is uneven, particularly in rural areas. While urban centres benefit from relatively stable internet access, many communities still struggle with limited connectivity.

Oshomah pointed to Estonia as a benchmark, noting that despite having only 30% of Nigeria’s population, the European nation has achieved 90% internet penetration. In contrast, data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) shows that broadband penetration in Nigeria stood at 44.43% as of December 2024.

However, there is hope in the proposed national fibre project, which aims to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable across the country. The goal is to improve connectivity and provide the necessary infrastructure for e-governance to thrive.

The Role of Stakeholders

Professor Ibrahim Adepoju, managing director of Galaxy Backbone, stressed that achieving Nigeria’s e-governance goals would require stronger collaboration across public and private sectors. He noted that many government agencies are unaware of existing digital infrastructure and called for better awareness and utilisation of available resources.

“It’s important to improve our broadband and ensure that our infrastructure remains relevant,” Adepoju stated, pointing out that current capacity remains underutilised despite significant investments.

Similarly, Hauwa Buba Wakili, head of Digital Skills and Services at the NCC, outlined efforts to enhance e-governance through indigenous content development, research, and capacity building. “We have been focusing on infrastructure and have developed a policy to drive indigenous content in the telecom sector. We’re looking at manufacturing, capacity building, and R&D,” she explained.

Nigeria needs to launch functional, accessible, and sustainable products in the long run. With the right policies, infrastructure, and stakeholder commitment, the country may finally bridge the gap between aspiration and execution in its e-governance journey.

While the federal government is targeting this initiative, collaboration must be ensured across all levels of government.

The 50% tariff hike was first implemented by MTN Nigeria just a week earlier. Telecom operators are revising their prices following the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) approval of a 50% tariff increase on January 20, 2025.

Under the new pricing structure, Airtel’s most affordable data plan has been revised. The 1.2GB plan previously priced at ₦1,000 has been replaced with 2GB for ₦1,500, representing a 50% increase. 

The adjustments extend to other plans as well. For example, the 3GB plan now costs ₦2,000, up from ₦1,200 for 1.5GB, and the 4GB plan now stands at ₦2,500, an increase from the previous 3GB at ₦1,500. 

The 8GB plan now costs ₦3,000, a rise from ₦2,000 for the former 4.5GB package. Larger bundles have also been impacted, with the 10GB plan now priced at ₦4,000, replacing the earlier 6GB plan that cost ₦2,500. 

Other hikes include the 13GB plan at ₦5,000 (previously 10GB at ₦3,000), 18GB for ₦6,000 (up from 15GB at ₦4,000), and 25GB for ₦8,000, replacing the previous 18GB plan at ₦5,000.

Airtel has also revised its call rates, introducing a new flat rate of 25 kobo per second, which means a one-minute call now costs approximately ₦15, an increase from the previous ₦11 rate. 

However, the telco has left certain plans untouched. Notably, the 5GB weekly plan priced at ₦1,500 remains the same, providing some relief for customers seeking shorter-term options.

Raising tariffs aims to help telcos maintain service quality and encourage investment in infrastructure. According to Airtel, the new rates will help the company continue to invest in network improvements, ensuring better service, more reliable connectivity, and a wider coverage area for its customers. 

The operator has stressed that the tariff increase will also contribute to enhanced customer service, better network quality, and greater access to innovative solutions.

Even with these assurances, there are talks that the new pricing structure may place additional stress on Nigerian consumers. 

The recent tariff hikes are foreseen to further stretch household budgets, particularly as the country’s inflation and costs of living keep increasing. Experts have warned that the increases could result in reduced usage by consumers, who may struggle to keep up with the higher costs.

Bismarck Rewane, the chief executive officer of Financial Derivatives Company, pointed out that while the price hikes may benefit the telecom operators in the short term, they could lead to reduced consumption, potentially affecting the long-term sustainability of the changes. 

He explained that the tariff increases would likely weigh heavily on consumers, especially those already feeling the economic impact of rising inflation. “The hike promises to benefit operators but will put additional strain on consumers’ pockets, possibly resulting in reduced usage from consumers,” Rewane noted.

Before Airtel, MTN Nigeria was the first to implement the hike in tariffs and the telco received complaints from its subscribers. MTN Nigeria had raised three of its data plans by more than 50%, which led to a flurry of objections on social media and other platforms. 

While the telco defended its move, explaining that the hikes were within the NCC-approved limits and part of efforts to remove subsidies from special plans, it eventually issued an apology to its customers in response to the outcry.

Airtel’s tariff adjustments have met with mixed reactions from users, many of whom are concerned about the affordability of telecom services, especially for those who rely heavily on mobile data for work, education, and communication. 

The move aims to help operators resolve challenges of sustaining operations in the market, while also coping with inflation and high costs. However, the telecom industry is one of the most profitable sectors in Nigeria, with a growing base of mobile phone and internet users, despite the challenges caused by increasing tariffs.

While Airtel and MTN may have their reasons for these hikes in tariffs, the obvious remains that consumers are bearing the brunt of these increases, despite service quality and infrastructure offsetting the financial aspect for telcos.

The new prices, which took effect this week, have triggered complaints from subscribers who argue that the hikes go beyond the 50% increase authorised by the regulator.

A review of MTN’s updated data plans shows that the 1.8GB monthly plan now costs ₦1,500, replacing the previous 1.5GB plan which was ₦1,000. 

Similarly, the 15GB plan has risen from ₦4,500 to ₦6,500, while the 20GB plan now sells for ₦7,500, up from ₦5,500. The changes also extend to text messaging, with all major operators now charging ₦6 per SMS, up from the previous ₦4.

Even with NCC’s approval for a 50% increase, some of MTN’s revised data plans have reportedly seen hikes exceeding this limit. 

For instance, the 15GB weekly plan, previously priced at ₦2,000, now costs ₦6,000, a 200% increase. Likewise, the 100GB data bundle, which used to be ₦20,000, has been replaced by a 90GB plan for ₦25,000, a 25% increase. 

The 600GB bundle, once ₦75,000, has now been adjusted to ₦120,000 for 480GB, amounting to a 60% price jump.

The unexpected price surge has led to frustration among subscribers, with many taking to social media to voice their dissatisfaction online. One user on X (formerly Twitter), @limasyre, pointed out the discrepancy between the NCC’s approval and the actual price changes: 

“NCC approved 50 per cent tariff hike on telecoms in Nigeria. A price increase from N2,000 to N6,000 for the same 15GB weekly data plan is a 200 per cent increase. A 50 per cent hike is supposed to be N3,000. Good luck to all the parties involved. As for me, I’m not buying that plan again.”

Another user, @officialdey1, warned that the network could start losing customers, saying: “MTN gonna lose customers because I don’t understand how you will raise the cost of 15GB data from N2,000 to N6,000.”

The controversy surrounding the price review stems from NCC’s earlier announcement in January, approving a tariff adjustment for telecom operators to address rising costs of operations. 

The Commission, in a statement signed by its director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, explained that the decision was made to sustain the industry: “The adjustment, capped at a maximum of 50 per cent of current tariffs, though lower than the over 100 per cent requested by some network operators, was arrived at taking into account ongoing industry reforms that will positively influence sustainability.”

However, the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) has promised to challenge the tariff increase in court, arguing that the decision was made without proper consultation with consumers.

Meanwhile, the Presidency has defended the NCC’s approval, stating that the move was necessary to ensure the telecom industry remains viable. It also clarified that operators were not required to raise their tariffs by the full 50%, leaving room for them to adjust rates based on their business considerations.

“It is important to highlight that this approval does not mean automatic increases in tariffs. Operators are free to maintain their current rates if they find them sustainable,” the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre said in a statement.

With Nigeria’s broadband penetration currently at 44%, the government is pushing to raise it to 70% by 2025, while also increasing investments in broadband infrastructure by up to 500% by 2027.

This initiative is expected to improve connectivity in key sectors, including education, healthcare, religious institutions, and markets. The NCC has selected eight states—Edo, Ogun, Kwara, Katsina, Imo, Abia, Borno, and Nasarawa—for the pilot phase, with plans to expand coverage nationwide.

At the launch event in Lagos, NCC Executive Vice Chairman Aminu Maida, representing Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation and the Digital Economy, noted the importance of collaboration in achieving these goals. “Achieving these goals will require more than just the efforts of the private sector. It will require a holistic approach that includes strategic partnerships with donors, investors, and other key stakeholders in accelerating the rollout of critical infrastructure,” he said.

Regarding the NCC’s recent approval of a 50% tariff increase for telecom operators, provided they improve service quality within three months of implementation, operators are still challenged with multiple taxation, vandalism of infrastructure, and security issues. 

Gbenga Adebayo, president of the Association of Licenced Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria, said, “Tariff increase is not all the problem that the industry faces.” He explained that while the increase would help operators recover some revenue losses, it does not resolve the fundamental issues affecting the sector.

MTN and 9mobile Enter Roaming Partnership

The NCC has also approved a network-sharing agreement between MTN Nigeria and 9mobile. Under this arrangement, 9mobile will utilise MTN’s nationwide infrastructure to enhance its coverage, allowing its subscribers to access calls, messages, and data services in previously unreachable areas.

For MTN, the agreement offers financial benefits and additional spectrum access, particularly in the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz frequency bands.

Nigeria’s Broadband Expansion Lags Behind Regional Peers

Even with these new initiatives, Nigeria still lags behind countries like South Africa and Egypt in broadband penetration. 

As of January 2025, South Africa reported 74.7% penetration, while Egypt stood at 72.2%. Additionally, Nigeria’s 4G coverage remains at 47%, and 5G adoption is still low at just 2.4%, two years after its rollout.

To accelerate progress, the NBAN initiative aims to simplify regulatory processes, incentivise private-sector investment, and promote broadband adoption nationwide. If successfully implemented, these measures could make Nigeria’s digital economy way better.

The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) noted that without a tariff review to align with high costs of operations, critical telecom services could be greatly affected. This could lead to limited or suspended services in certain regions across the country.

Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of ALTON, explained that the telecom sector’s survival is at risk due to high expenses, such as energy prices, inflation, and unstable exchange rates. 

Even with these financial limitations, telecommunications service providers have been unable to adjust their tariffs, as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) regulates price changes.

Adebayo warned that if these issues are not addressed soon, Nigeria could experience adverse consequences. He referred to the possibility of “service shedding,” where telecom operators may be forced to limit services in certain areas or at specific times, disconnecting millions of Nigerians. 

This would lead to serious disruptions, especially in sectors like healthcare, education, and security, which heavily rely on telecommunications for their operations.

The ALTON Chairman stressed that while these challenges are not new, they have become severe over the past year. Operators are struggling to secure the financial resources needed to maintain and modernise telecom infrastructure, with unchanging tariffs compounding the problem.

Adebayo called on all stakeholders to immediately act to prevent the telecom sector from collapsing. He emphasised the urgency of the situation, noting that without reform, Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure could be at risk, which would have a negative impact on the economy and everyday life.

Nonetheless, Adebayo said that with the right reforms and collaborations, the telecom sector could recover in 2025. He urged the industry to work together to secure the sector and avoid the forthcoming disruptions.

This is a promising recovery after a prolonged period of decline, largely attributed to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) audit and the implementation of the National Identification Number (NIN)-SIM linkage exercise.

MTN and Airtel are driving this growth, with MTN, the largest mobile network operator in the country, recording an increase of 2.2 million new subscriptions, bringing its total to 80.3 million active lines. 

This growth has enabled MTN’s new 51.09% hold of the market share. Airtel also saw a rise of 697,430 new subscribers, boosting its total to 54.4 million active subscriptions and securing 31.61% of the market share.

The rise in active subscriptions has contributed to an improvement in Nigeria’s teledensity, which increased from 71.46% in September to 72.7% in October, based on an estimated population of 216 million people.

In contrast, Globacom and 9mobile have faced setbacks. Globacom experienced a further decline of 44,635 subscriptions, following the earlier audit and NIN-SIM exercise, leaving the network with 19.1 million active subscriptions and a market share of 12.15%. 

9mobile, which has struggled with customer retention over the years, lost 245,263 subscriptions, reducing its active base to just 3.3 million, accounting for only 2.15% of the market.

The NCC’s recent audit, which aimed to address the issue of inactive and improperly registered lines, revealed that one network operator had misclassified 40 million inactive lines as active. 

These lines had not generated any revenue for over 90 days, breaching the NCC’s guidelines for active users and distorting the industry’s data.