- Nigeria’s Internet Subscribers Surge to 122.6m in May
The total number of internet subscribers in Nigeria surged by 3.1 million in May, according to the data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The data showed the total number of subscribers rose by 3,117,985 from 119,506,430 recorded in April to 122,624,417 in May. Representing a 2.54 percent increase.
Breaking down the numbers, MTN Nigeria gained the largest number of subscribers in May, adding 2,406,627 or 4.56 percent new internet users to take its total to 52.4 million.
Followed by Airtel Africa, the newly listed company added 595,093 or 1.89 percent subscribers to 31.34 million recorded in April to take its total subscribers to 31.93 million in May. While Globacom and Visafone gained 198,142 and 8,991, respectively.
However, 9mobile declined further in May, just like in April, lost another 90,866 subscribers or 0.97 percent to 9.4 million.
| Network |
May’19 |
April’19 |
Gain |
Gain% |
| Airtel |
31932750 |
31337657 |
595093 |
1.86 |
| 9mobile |
9350477 |
9441343 |
-90866 |
-0.97 |
| Globacom |
28825533 |
28627391 |
198142 |
0.69 |
| MTN |
52433020 |
50026393 |
2406627 |
4.59 |
| Visafone |
82637 |
73646 |
8991 |
10.88 |
| Total |
122,624,417 |
119,506,430 |
3,117,987 |
2.54 |
While the growing internet usage attests to Nigeria’s huge potentials, experts have faulted the quality of service.
The latest data from the Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index showed Nigeria still have one of the lowest internet speed in the world despite its huge subscription.
Nigeria’s mobile internet speed was 14 megabits per second in May, below the global average of 27,22 megabits per second. Nigeria’s upload speed was put at 6.53mbps. Suggesting more needs to be done to deepen usage and enhance e-commerce going forward.
