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Worldwide Mobile Data Traffic Growth Doubles in Two Years

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Mobile data traffic in Sub-Saharan Africa, like the rest of the world will maintain an upward trajectory, as mobile broadband-capable devices become more accessible. For markets like SA and Kenya, the conclusion of high-demand radio frequency spectrum allocations will lead the rise of data traffic, according to the 2022 Ericsson Mobility Report.

While traffic growth is often considered “highly volatile” between years, the 22nd edition of the Ericsson report reveals global mobile network data traffic doubled in the past two years.

This growth, notes the report, was driven by increased smartphone and mobile broadband usage, as well as the digitalisation of society and industries.

Furthermore, it highlights the strong demand data connectivity and digital services have, and are expected to have, despite the global COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical uncertainties.

Based on the report’s findings, mobile network data traffic grew 40% between the first quarter (Q1) of 2021 and Q1 of 2022.

“The quarter-on-quarter mobile network data traffic growth between Q4 2021 and Q1 2022 was around 10%. Total monthly global mobile network data traffic reached around 93EB, meaning it has doubled in just two years since Q1 2020.

“Over the long-term, traffic growth is driven by both the rising number of smartphone subscriptions and an increasing average data volume per subscription, fuelled primarily by increased viewing of video content.”

Fredrik Jejdling, executive VP and head of networks at Ericsson, adds: “Continuous network modernisation and coverage build-out has led to several hundred million people becoming new mobile broadband subscribers every year.”

Turning to data traffic in Sub-Saharan Africa, the report notes increasingly affordable price plans and service provider subsidies in some parts of the region will help the upward trajectory.

South Africa and Kenya’s spectrum allocations will enable service providers to extend their coverage and capacity of 3G/4G networks, it states.

“3G mobile data traffic is still increasing, but most of the traffic growth is expected to be in the 4G networks. The average data traffic per smartphone is expected to reach 11GB per month over the forecast period.”

The report projects that total global mobile data traffic will grow around 4.2% to reach 282EB per month in 2027.

The traffic growth up to 2027 includes an assumption that an initial uptake of XR-type services, including augmented reality, virtual reality and mixed reality, will happen in the latter part of the forecast period.

“If adoption is stronger than expected, data traffic could increase even more than currently anticipated towards the end of the forecast period.

“Currently, video traffic is estimated to account for 69% of all mobile data traffic, a share that is forecast to increase to 79% in 2027.

“Populous markets that launch 5G early are likely to lead traffic growth over the forecast period. 5G’s share of mobile data traffic was around 10% in 2021, and this share is forecast to grow to 60% in 2027.”

More growth projections

Ericsson predicts the number of fixed wireless access (FWA) connections will exceed 100 million in 2022, reaching almost 230 million by 2027.

Of these 230 million, the number of 5G FWA connections is expected to grow to around 110 million by 2027, representing almost half of the total FWA connections, it reveals.

FWA is a connection that provides primary broadband access through mobile network-enabled customer premises equipment.

According to the Ericsson report, more than 75% of service providers surveyed in over 100 countries are offering FWA services.

“Out of 311 service providers studied, 238 had an FWA offering, representing an average of 77% globally. Service providers’ adoption of FWA offerings has more than doubled in the last three years.”

Ericsson has determined that FWA will play an increasingly important role in the delivery of broadband services across the globe.

At the end of 2021, there were around 8.2 billion mobile subscriptions, according to Ericsson.

Therefore, it projects the figure will increase to around 9.1 billion by the end of 2027. “During the same time, the share of mobile broadband subscriptions will increase from 84% to 93%.”

It’s also anticipated that the number of unique mobile subscribers will grow from 6.1 billion at the end of 2021 to 6.7 billion by the end of the forecast period.

Subscriptions associated with smartphones continue to rise, indicates the report.

At the end of 2021, there were 6.3 billion, accounting for about 77% of all mobile phone subscriptions. This is forecast to reach 7.8 billion in 2027, accounting for around 87% of all mobile subscriptions at that time.

On the other hand, subscriptions for fixed broadband are expected to grow around 4%, with FWA connections anticipated to show strong growth of 17% annually through 2027.

Subscriptions for mobile PCs and tablets are expected to show moderate growth, reaching around 540 million in 2027, it concludes.


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Glo Festival of Joy Promo Draws Lucky Winners in Abuja

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Globacom’s Festival of Joy promo took the centre stage in Abuja on Friday as the company held a draw to select lucky winners of exciting prizes.

The event, held at the Gloworld office on Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse, was witnessed by officials of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Glo subscribers, and media representatives.

This draw marks another milestone in the Festival of Joy promo, which has been rewarding subscribers across Nigeria since its launch in October 2024.

Lucky winners in Abuja will receive their prizes, including a brand-new Toyota Prado, tricycles, sewing machines, generators, and grinding machines, on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.

To participate in the promo, new and existing subscribers can dial *611# and recharge their lines (voice and data) during the promo period.

Globacom explained that, “Customers are required to recharge up to N100, 000 cumulatively during the promo period to qualify for the draw for the Prado Jeep, N50, 000 cumulative recharge for Kia Picanto, N10, 000 in a month for tricycle and N5, 000 total recharge in a month to win a generator.

“For the sewing machine, a total recharge of N2, 500 in a month is required, while for the grinding machine, a recharge of N1000 in a week will be eligible for the draw,”.


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MTN Subscribers Enjoyed Best Internet Performances in 2024 – Report

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The subscribers of MTN Nigeria enjoyed the best mobile Internet performances in 2024, according to nPerf’s 2024 report, which analysed mobile internet performance across Nigeria.

MTN Subscribers Enjoyed Best Internet Performances in 2024 - Report

nPerf, a French company has been a trusted partner for both fixed and mobile operators, providing comprehensive network testing solutions and analysis.

According to nPerf, in 2024, the mobile market in Nigeria saw significant developments and the leader for this period is MTN, maintaining its position as the global winner.

From January 1 to December 31, 2024, MTN led mobile internet in Nigeria across every measurable category, with great performance. Its subscribers enjoyed an average download speed of 17.82 Mbps, leaving Airtel at 9.98 Mbps and Glo at a distant 5.66 Mbps.

“This period highlights MTN’s continued dominance as the market leader, with no new entrants taking the lead in 2024. MTN emerged as the sole leader, showing impressive advancements across various KPIs and focus areas. The analysis showcases MTN’s superiority in Download speed, Upload speed, and Latency.

Upload speeds were similar, with MTN averaging 8.05 Mbps, Airtel 4.35 Mbps, and Glo 3.43 Mbps, even as reliance on solid internet connectivity never stopped increasing.

Latency, an important metric for real-time applications such as video calls and gaming, further enhanced MTN’s place in the market. The network achieved an average latency of 79.44 ms, comfortably outperforming Glo’s 89.44 ms and Airtel’s 119.85 ms.

MTN Subscribers Enjoyed Best Internet Performances in 2024 - Report

These figures are particularly important during peak periods (6 PM to 11 PM) when the network issues are at the highest. MTN’s ability to maintain consistent latency levels during these busy hours speaks to its superior infrastructure.

Beyond raw speeds, the quality of experience (QoE) was also analysed. In browsing performance, MTN scored an average success rate of 36.08%, surpassing Airtel at 28.86%, while Glo lagged at 29.42%.

This difference was also seen in video streaming, where MTN recorded an average streaming success rate of 72.35%, overshadowing Airtel’s 67.04% and Glo’s 53.81%.

Airtel, despite being a distant second in most metrics, delivered a commendable performance in specific areas, particularly video streaming.

Its streaming rate, at 67.04%, shows a strong emphasis on delivering quality experiences in this domain.

However, Airtel’s inability to match MTN’s speeds, browsing performance and latency asserted the gap between the two providers.

Glo, on the other hand, had steady progress throughout 2024. Although it lagged in download (5.66 Mbps) and upload speeds (3.43 Mbps), its performance in latency (89.44 ms) revealed some improvement in network responsiveness.

Glo’s focus on enhancing connectivity is obvious, but it remains apparent that the provider has some ground to cover before it can challenge the likes of MTN or even Airtel.

The data disclosed that whether downloading, browsing, or streaming, MTN subscribers always enjoyed the best experiences.

In the 4G focus area, MTN also stands out as the leader. These achievements underline the positive trends and strong market dynamics” according to nPerf.

The report also said that not only does MTN excel in download speed, upload speed, and latency, but it also leads in Video streaming.

nPerf’s report added that MTN dominates the 4G focus area, reinforcing its pioneering position in the mobile technology sector.

“Significant improvements include a remarkable enhancement in Upload speed. MTN’s consistent contributions have greatly strengthened the overall market landscape” it said

On Airtel, nPerf reported excellence in browsing and streaming, adding that Airtel, while not the market leader, demonstrates excellence in specific categories.

“With a strong performance in browsing and video streaming, Airtel secures its place as a key player. The operator’s contributions are vital to the market’s competitiveness, and its focus on enhancing user experience is evident” nPerf reported.

nPerf further reported that Glo showed steady progress with a commendable improvement in its overall score.

Although not a market leader, Glo has shown improvements in various areas, contributing positively to the market’s dynamics. The operator’s focus on enhancing connectivity and customer satisfaction is noteworthy, according to nPerf.

 


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NIGCOMSAT, Eutelsat Partner to Deepen Communication Connectivity via LEO Satellite

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Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Ltd, in conjunction with Eutelsat, global leader in satellite  communications , are proud to announce a groundbreaking multi-year, multi-million-dollar partnership to deliver low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite services in Nigeria.

NIGCOMSAT, Eutelsat Partner to Deepen Communication Connectivity via LEO Satellite

This strategic agreement positions NIGCOMSAT as Nigeria’s leading satellite service provider by leveraging the OneWeb LEO network to deliver high-speed, low-latency connectivity.

The services will cater to a wide range of sectors, including government, enterprises, and underserved rural areas, supporting essential applications like remote communications, mobile connectivity, and offshore operations.

Mrs. Jane Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, managing director/chief executive officer, NIGCOMSAT, stated that, “We are delighted to deepen our collaboration with Eutelsat, a globally renowned satellite technology leader. This partnership is a milestone for NIGCOMSAT, enabling us to bridge Nigeria’s digital divide through the cutting-edge capabilities of OneWeb LEO satellites. Together, we will deliver scalable, reliable connectivity solutions to foster growth across government services, businesses and communities nationwide.”

She added, ‘this partnership attests to the strong ties between Nigeria and France in advancing satellite and space technology. By joining forces, Eutelsat and NIGCOMSAT are poised to drive innovation, accelerate digital transformation, and open new opportunities for connectivity across Nigeria and beyond.

Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Limited is Nigeria’s premier satellite communications provider, committed to delivering world-class satellite services to empower communities and industries.

With its flagship NigComSat-1R satellite, NIGCOMSAT supports critical sectors such as  communication, education, health and security.

Eutelsat Group is a global leader in satellite communications, delivering connectivity and broadcast services worldwide.

The Group was formed through the combination of the Company and OneWeb in 2023, becoming the first fully integrated GEO-LEO satellite operator with a fleet of 35 Geostationary satellites and a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation of more than 600 satellites.

The Group addresses the needs of customers in four key verticals of Video, where it distributes more than 6,500 television channels, and the high-growth connectivity markets of Mobile Connectivity, Fixed Connectivity, and Government Services. Eutelsat Group’s unique suite of in-orbit assets enables it to deliver integrated solutions to meet the needs of global customers.


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