Broadband penetration drops to 40.85 per cent

Based on the updated telecoms indicator by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), telephone density (teledensity) in Nigeria has dropped from 115.63 per cent to 102.3 per cent. NCC explained that the adjustment became necessary to reflect the latest population growth figures and align with international best practices.

The Commission said the adjustment, which is reflected in the telecoms industry statistical reports of September, October and November 2023 was predicated upon the Nigerian Population Commission (NPC)’s projection of Nigeria’s population at 216,783,381, as of 2022, replacing the previously used 2017 projection of 190 million people.

NCC, in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Mouka, noted that despite a drop in teledensity, Nigeria witnessed a steady increase in active voice and Internet subscriptions.

“With the consequential adjustment, which is in line with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)’s calculation of teledensity, the nation’s teledensity dropped from 115.63 per cent to 102.30 per cent in September, while Broadband penetration witnessed a similar drop from 45.47 per cent to 40.85 per cent in the same month.

“However, the active voice subscription statistics witnessed a marginal growth from 220,361,186 to 221,769,883 as of September 2023. In addition, Internet subscriptions also enjoyed a marginal growth, from 159,034,717 in August 2023 to 160,171,757 in September 202,” it stated.

According to NCC, in October 2023 the industry also experienced a 0.19 per cent growth in active voice subscriptions while teledensity stood at 102.49 per cent with Internet subscriptions increasing by 0.6 per cent compared to September 2023.

The telecoms regulator said that in November of the same year, the industry also experienced a 0.46 per cent growth in active voice subscriptions. In the period, teledensity remained stagnant at 102.97 per cent with a 0.57 per cent increase in Internet subscriptions when compared to October 2023.

Teledensity is an index prescribed by the ITU for the measurement of telephone penetration in a population by a factor of one line per 100 individuals in the population.

The adjustment by the Commission is consistent with Section 89 Subsection 3(d) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 (NCA 2003), in which the Commission is mandated to monitor and report on the state of the Nigerian telecommunications industry, provide statistical analysis and identify industry trends concerning services, tariffs, operators, technology, subscribers, and issues of competition.

Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, affirmed the nation’s telecoms statistical adjustment process as an appropriate step to maintain the integrity of data about the Nigerian telecoms industry as collected, collated, and published by the Commission.

He noted that this will also ensure the accurate measurement of the Commission’s progress towards attaining increased broadband penetration rates, improved quality of service, and increased population coverage, among other targets set out in the Strategic Plan for the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.

The EVC also said such data provides information for the ITU, to which Nigeria belongs, and other development agencies as well as the operators, investors, multilateral agencies, and the public.