Mobile Technology Continues to Drive Growth in Nigeria’s Telecommunications Sector

Nigeria’s mobile technology sector continues to experience sustained growth, with the total number of mobile subscriptions reaching 225.88 million in January 2023.

This represents a significant increase of 3.66 million more mobile subscriptions than the previous month.

New industry data from the Nigerian Communications Commission reveals that the teledensity, which measures the number of active telephones per 100 people living in an area, grew to 118.51 per cent in January. This highlights the widespread adoption of mobile technology in Nigeria, with mobile subscriptions on MTN Nigeria growing to 91.95 million, 60.56 million on Airtel, 60.34 million on Globacom, and 13.03 million on 9mobile.

The growth of the mobile technology sector has also led to increased broadband penetration, which reached 48.20 per cent in January, with the number of mobile Internet subscriptions reaching 155.68 million. This is a significant step towards the government’s target of achieving 50 per cent broadband penetration by 2023.

The mobile industry’s contribution to the Nigerian economy cannot be overlooked. In 2022, it contributed N10.13tn in real terms, translating to economic gains for the country.

Additionally, mobile technologies have played a critical role in driving digital inclusion and financial inclusion, with mobile connectivity being the predominant form of connectivity in Nigeria, according to the GSMA.

In January 2023, mobile transactions grew by 230 per cent, demonstrating the role that mobile technology is playing in driving the country’s financial inclusion agenda. The widespread adoption of mobile technology is driving investment in network coverage, bringing connectivity to even more people across the country.