Smaller Operators Like Glo Lose Ground As Mobile Phone Subscriptions Hit 169.3 Million

Nigeria’s telecommunications sector added 2.33 million new mobile subscriptions in January, bringing the total number of active lines to 169.3 million, according to data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission.

The growth, driven almost entirely by MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria, reflects the ongoing importance of mobile connectivity in Africa’s largest economy, where mobile phones serve not only as communication tools but also as essential gateways to financial services and digital commerce.

Gains at the Top, Losses at the Bottom

MTN, the country’s largest operator, added 1.39 million new subscriptions in January alone, pushing its total to 88.31 million lines. Airtel followed with 839,777 new lines, bringing its subscriber base to 62.44 million.

Together, MTN and Airtel accounted for more than 95 percent of all new subscriptions in the month, underscoring their dominance in a sector that has become increasingly polarized between market leaders and struggling competitors.

The country’s third- and fourth-largest operators, Globacom and 9mobile, continued to lose customers. Glo shed 11,827 lines, reducing its base to 60.77 million. 9mobile fared worse, losing 30,058 lines and ending the month with 12.52 million subscriptions.

A Broader Decline for Smaller Players

The losses at Glo and 9mobile extend a pattern that analysts say reflects both operational struggles and shifting consumer preferences.

Globacom, which once positioned itself as the patriotic alternative to foreign-owned operators, has struggled to match the network quality and aggressive pricing strategies of its larger rivals. While Glo’s discounted data plans remain popular, service complaints have mounted, with users citing slow speeds and frequent disruptions.

9mobile, once considered an agile challenger, has never fully recovered from its high-profile debt crisis and ownership shakeup in 2017, when its predecessor, Etisalat Nigeria, defaulted on a $1.2 billion loan. Years later, 9mobile still lacks the capital strength to upgrade its network at scale, leaving it vulnerable to customer attrition.

Broadband Slowly Expands

Nigeria’s broadband subscriptions also grew modestly in January, rising from 93.92 million in December to 94.42 million, the NCC said. That increase nudged broadband penetration to 49.16 percent, a slight improvement from 48.93 percent the previous month.

Much of that growth reflects operators’ ongoing 4G expansion and early-stage 5G rollouts, particularly in Nigeria’s largest cities. But broadband coverage remains limited in many rural areas, and the high cost of smartphones continues to pose a barrier to adoption.

Economic Pressures and Quality Concerns

The gains in overall subscriptions come at a time of increasing financial strain for operators. Telecom companies have repeatedly warned that rising operational costs, driven by inflation, energy prices, and a weakened naira — could force them to raise tariffs. Such increases could dampen future growth, especially if consumer spending weakens further.

At the same time, concerns over service quality persist. Across operators, customers report dropped calls, inconsistent data speeds, and network congestion, especially in high-density urban areas. Complaints are particularly frequent among Glo and 9mobile subscribers, though even market leaders like MTN have faced regulatory scrutiny over quality-of-service issues.

A Market Dividing in Two

What emerges is a portrait of a sector increasingly split between two dominant players — MTN and Airtel — and two struggling challengers, Glo and 9mobile. Without significant investment or strategic realignment, analysts say, the competitive map of Nigeria’s telecoms industry may soon shrink to a two-horse race.

For now, the numbers reflect both the enduring importance of mobile connectivity in Nigeria and the fragility of competition in one of Africa’s most dynamic technology markets.

Subscribe to Notifications