MTN Nigeria’s web customers dropped in January due to efforts to abide by the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) required to connect all SIM cards with a National Identity Number (NIN).
MTN, the biggest telecom operator in the nation, saw over 2.8 million customers drop from its web company leaving 67.8 million customers in January from 70.6 million customers in December. The decrease was the most MTN Nigeria has actually seen given that May 2023.
The drop, nevertheless, didn’t impact Airtel and Globacom as both telcos acquired customers in the very same month, according to the newest information from the regulatorAirtel acquired the most customers in January with 890,935 customers signing up with the network and assisting to strengthen its position as the second-largest web service company with 45.9 million customers. Globacom likewise got 192,313 customers in January.
Customer gains from Airtel and Globacom assisted to lower the effect of MTN’s customer decrease on the market. Airtel grew its customer base from 45.0 million customers to 45.9 million customers. Globacom likewise grew its customer base from 43.9 million customers to 44.1 million customers.
In December 2023, the NCC directed all the telecom operators in the nation to deregister all phone lines without a NIN and those with unproven NINs. A representative for MTN Nigeria informed TechCabal that the operator began compliance practically instantly after the instruction was provided. The business likewise made numerous advertorials concerning the instruction which led lots of customers to take actions to upgrade or register their NIN.
The due date was expected to have actually ended on March 29, 2024, nevertheless, the NCC has actually now extended the due date for the disconnection of unlinked lines to July 31, 2024, per TheCable
The telecom operator has actually had a history of fines with the NCC which it is still attempting to put behind it. In 2015, the business was fined $5.2 billion for stopping working to detach clients with unregistered SIM cards.
MTN Nigeria’s membership decrease dented the general market web figures in January. According to the NCC, the overall variety of customers that dropped off throughout all networks was 1.84 million leaving operators with 161.5 million customers from 163.3 million in December 2023. Aside from MTN Nigeria, 9Mobile continued its almost nine-year decrease with 94,824 customers leaving the network in January. 9Mobile now has 3.53 million customers.