Telecommunications operators recorded 2.09 per cent growth in the first quarter of 2022, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has disclosed.

Categorised as mobile network operators (MNOs), including the quartet of MTN, Airtel, Globacom and 9mobile, MTN, which recorded 0.04 per cent in Q4 2021, saw 2.15 in Q1 2022, Globacom that had 3.56 per cent by end of 2021, leaped by 1.94 per cent in the first three months of this year.

NCC said Airtel recorded 5.67 per cent in Q4 2021 and 2.68 per cent in Q1, 2022, as 9mobile’s growth contracted, falling from a negative 1.49 per cent in the last three months of 2021 to another negative tally of 0.14 per cent in the first quarter of this year.

In the period under review, 199,558,540 active voice subscribers were recorded compared to the 192,413,613 figure of Q1 2021, representing a 3.71 per cent rise in voice subscription Year-on-Year (YoY). Similarly, 145,851,496 active Internet subscribers were got in Q1 2022, as against the 144,949,194 posted for Q1 2021, indicating a 0.62 per cent rise YoY.

On states’ analyses, Lagos had the highest number of active voice subscribers in Q1 2022 with 24,226,878, followed by Kano with 11,666,630 and Ogun with 11,537,006, while Bayelsa was least with 1,445,123, followed by Ekiti with 1,786,160.

Again, Lagos came out tops in active Internet subscription, recording 17,839,569, followed by Ogun with 8,538,812 and Kano’s 8,364,587. On the other hand, Bayelsa sustained its unenviable low with 1,043,059, as Ebonyi and Ekiti garnered 1,230,081 and 1,373,888 tallies. However, MTN has the highest share in Q1 2022.

TO tackle the increasing complaints of subscribers, NCC would mandate network and non-network operators to resolve any problem within 30 days.

It is only when the subscriber is not satisfied with the resolution that he/she could be referred to the commission at the expiration of the timeline.

NCC, in its ‘Draft – Consumer Code of Practice Regulations’ document released on its website, said: “In the event that a complaint, including any escalation process, has not been resolved to the consumer’s satisfaction within 30 days of being communicated to the licensee, the licensee shall advise consumers that they may refer the complaint to the commission.”

“Any other dispute referred to the commission shall be resolved using the processes set out in its Dispute Resolution Guidelines or any dispute resolution procedure, which the commission may deem appropriate in the circumstance.”

The regulator said licensees (network operators and non-network operators) must publicly provide information about their complaint processes in various media and formats.