Telecom
Telcos Lose 14.68m Subscribers in a Year – NCC Report
The number of subscribers in the telecommunication sector fell by 14.68 million in the 12 months to November 2021, according to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The NCC data showed that the number of subscribers dropped by 7.07 per cent to 192,854,406 subscribers in November 2021 from 207,531,589 subscribers in the same month a year earlier.
According to the Punch, the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON)has described the current subscriber figure as the true reflection of the number of subscribers in the telecommunications sector.
In an interview with Punch, Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, ALTON said, “This is a true representation of the true number of subscribers that we have; we are the participatory subscribers. These are the genuine subscribers.”
However, he blamed this decline in the number of subscribers on the National Identity Number-Subscriber Identity Module data verification.
He said, “This is basically due to SIM and NIN integration. You know the process of acquisition became a lot more cumbersome, since the requirement for NIN before a SIM card can be obtained and for integration between the two.
“So, naturally that would distract the ‘in-and-out subscribers’; those who buy and churn would be discouraged. Those who are holding alternate devices, and do not have to subscribe to those devices would be discouraged too.
“And also, those who are using it to perpetrate acts that are against the common interest of the nation would be discouraged. The contraction is not unusual; we think what has caused the slowdown of growth is because of the requirement of NIN and SIM, and what this means is that the number that we are witnessing now are the good quality subscribers.”
Olusola Teniola, national coordinator for the Alliance for Affordable Internet, said, “2021 numbers are showing that consumer spending is weakening the impact of affordability. And affordability is a very critical component especially as people are moving from 2G, which is voice, to 4G, which is being driven by access to the Internet and data services.
“A lot of users are now using over-the-top applications to make international calls and local domestic calls.”
Telecom
Celebrating African Creativity: Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ Returns for Its Fifth Year
The “Made by Africa, Loved by the World” campaign is back for its fifth year, celebrating African creativity and global influence. This year’s theme, “Where Culture Meets Connection,” highlights how social media fosters conversations around cultural moments worldwide.
The campaign features three cinematic films premiering on the Meta Africa page, showcasing the groundbreaking work and personal stories of six dynamic African creatives.
These artists, from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa, represent diverse disciplines, including rap, animation, dance, photography, fashion, and videography.
Here are some of the featured talents:
- Ladipoe (Nigeria) – A BET-nominated rapper known for blending global hip-hop with African rhythms.
- Fatboy Animations (Kenya) – An animation studio founded by Michael Muthiga, recognized by Forbes for its original African storytelling.
- Lisa Quama (Ghana) – A dancer who gained fame after appearing in Beyoncé’s “Already” music video.
- Gilbert Asante (Ghana) – A photographer and creative director featured in GQ and Glam Africa.
- David Tlale (South Africa) – A fashion designer whose bold designs have been showcased at major fashion events, including the Met Gala.
- Ofentse Mwase (South Africa) – A filmmaker with over 24 international awards for his unique visual storytelling.
Kezia Anim-Addo, Communications Director for Africa, Middle East & Turkey, emphasized that the campaign not only celebrates individual success stories but also showcases how culture and social media drive meaningful connections and inspiration.
Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), has raised the alarm over a diesel supply crisis caused by an ongoing strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Mr Tony Emoekpere, president, ATCON in a statement said that the fuel supply disruption is critically affecting telecom base stations, pushing them to the brink of a shutdown and threatening millions of mobile and internet users in the region.
“This strike, which stems from the persistent harassment of tanker and petroleum product drivers by police officers in Lagos State, has effectively halted all truck loading operations and fuel movements,” Emoekpere stated.
He explained that diesel supply to telecom infrastructure has been severely impacted, leaving critical sites with dangerously low fuel levels.
According to him, if urgent measures are not taken, the situation could escalate into a full-blown network blackout, disrupting essential services, including mobile and internet access, business operations, emergency response systems, and daily communications.
ATCON has called on the governors of Lagos and Ogun states to intervene immediately by facilitating the release of diesel from depots to telecom operators to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
“This is not just a telecom issue—it is a national emergency that could cripple economic activities and compromise public safety,” Emoekpere stressed.
The association also appealed to security agencies and petroleum unions to resolve the crisis swiftly to safeguard Nigeria’s connectivity and economic stability.
ATCON emphasised that a prolonged disruption in fuel supply to telecom infrastructure could have far-reaching consequences for both businesses and individuals who rely on stable communication networks for daily operations.
In 2023, Nigerians spent a total of about ₦5.3 trillion on telecommunications services, which includes calls, data, SMS, and other telecom services, according to the Leadership.
Specifically for voice calls, Nigerians made approximately 408.5 billion minutes of local calls, generating around ₦3.28 trillion from outgoing calls and ₦3.23 trillion from incoming calls, totaling about ₦6.51 trillion in call-related revenue according to projections based on 2023 call volumes and tariff data.
However, the ₦5.3 trillion figure represents the overall telecom sector revenue, with voice calls being a major component but also including data and other services.
For individual spending, MTN subscribers spent an average of ₦2,508 monthly on voice calls in 2023, showing a 14.4% increase from 2022, while Airtel customers spent about ₦1,694 monthly on voice calls.
Total telecom spending (calls, data, SMS, etc.): ₦5.3 trillion in 2023
Estimated revenue from voice calls alone: around ₦6.5 trillion based on call minutes and tariffs
Average monthly spending on calls per subscriber: ₦1,694 to ₦2,508 depending on the network
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