Nigeria’s Mobile Internet Subscribers Surge to 132.4 Million in September 2024

Nigeria’s telecommunications sector continues to witness significant growth, with the number of mobile internet subscribers reaching a new high of 132.4 million in September 2024. This represents a substantial increase from the 130.9 million recorded in August 2024.

As more Nigerians gain access to the internet, they are increasingly using their mobile devices for a wide range of activities, from social media, the growing demand for digital services and online shopping to education and financial services.

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According to the latest data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), while mobile internet remains the dominant mode of internet access, other connectivity options are also experiencing growth. Fixed-line internet subscriptions have reached 9,453, and VoIP subscriptions have reached 205,634. Additionally, there are 285,702 ISP (Wired/Wireless) subscriptions.

MTN’s internet subscribers rose by 866,406 to 68.39 million in September, from 67.52 million in August.

Airtel followed as its internet subscriber base increased by 593,458, from 44.20 million in August to 44.79 million in September.

Also, Globacom gained 206,391 internet subscribers in the reviewed period, raising its data users from 16.71 million in August to 16.92 million last month.

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In the same vein, more statistics from NCC, the number of active mobile internet subscriptions dropped from 163.35 million in December 2023 to 132.4 million in September 2024.

Findings from Business Remarks revealed that this decline can be attributed to several factors, including the strict implementation of the SIM card linkage policy, which led to the deactivation of numerous unregistered SIM cards. Additionally, economic challenges and rising costs of living may have impacted consumer spending on mobile data services. Despite this decline, the telecommunications sector remains a vital driver of Nigeria’s economy.