The number of lines connected through the mobile networks of MTN, Globacom, Airtel and 9mobile increased to 319.6 million in October.
This is according to the latest subscriber data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
However, only 244.3 million of these lines were in active use, according to NCC data seen by Nairametrics.
The implication is that a total of 104.9 million lines on the networks have become idle.
More details: A mobile line is said to be inactive if the subscriber does not use it to make or receive calls or access data services for at least 90 days.
These lines are separated from the active lines since they do not generate income for the telecommunication operators within the established period.
Market share: Of the total active lines, MTN represented 38.85% with a total of 83.2 million active subscriptions at the end of October.
- Globacom maintained its second position with a 27.82% market share, having registered 59.6 million active lines in the period under review.
- Airtel’s market share stood at 27.37% as of October, with 58.6 million active subscriptions.
- 9mobile, on the other hand, had only a 5.96% share of the mobile market with 12.7 million subscriptions.
inactive lines: Although the number of idle lines on mobile networks remains high, the number has dropped significantly over the past year. In August 2021, the inactive lines in the network amounted to 139 million.
- Keep in mind that telecom operators have always had inactive lines along with the increase in active users and new activations. However, the ban on the registration of new SIMs and the inability of many subscribers to recover their lines between December 9, 2020 and April 19, 2021 made the situation worse.
- Meanwhile, the gradual reduction in the number of idle lines could also be attributed to a new SIM policy introduced by the NCC.
- The NCC recently stated that subscribers whose lines have been idle for 12 months will lose them.
- “Subscriber numbers that have not generated revenue from originating calls will be automatically recovered after 12 consecutive months,” stated the Commission in the new policy document.