There has been constant increment in phonation and data subscription in the country. This was shown by the latest telecommunication statistical indicator put out by the Nigeria Communications Commission, NCC.
This is with a drop in teledensity, which has been accommodated to reflect and speculate the latest population growth figures and correspond with international best practices.
The adjustment, which is reflected in the telecom industry statistical reports of September, October, and November 2023, published on the Commission’s website. Nigeria estimated population as of 2022 is 216,783,381 compared to 197 million in 2017, according to Nigerian Population Commission (NPC).
As a result of the substantial adjustment which follows the International Telecommunication Union ITU’s calculation of teledensity, the country’s teledensity moved down from 115.63% to 102.30 while Broadband penetration had a corresponding drop from 45.47% to 40.85%. All in September.
However, this was not the case for the active voice (phonation) subscription statistics as it experienced a small growth from 220,361,186 to 221,769,883 as of September 2023. This was the same for Internet subscriptions as it recorded a small growth of 1,137,040 million from August to September 7, 2023.
In October 2023, the industry also recorded a 0.19% growth in Active Voice (Phonation) subscriptions, while teledensity stood at 102.49% with an increase in Internet subscriptions by 0.60% compared to the month before.
In November of the same year, the industry also experienced a 0.46% growth in Active Voice (Phonation) subscriptions.
Internet subscription gained 0.57% compared to October 2023 with teledensity remaining at 102.97%.
Teledensity is an index prescribed by the International Telecommunications Union, ITU, for the measurement of telephone penetration in a population by a factor of one line per 100 individuals in the population.
The adjustment follows the Communications Act of 2023, that allows the Commission to supervise, make reports and oversee the telecommunications industry in the country.
NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida stated that the adjustment process regarding the nation’s telecom statistics serves as the right step to maintain the integrity of data as collected, collated and published by the Commission.
He pointed out how this would give assurance on the accurate measurement of the Commission’s progress to attaining improved quality of service, increased broadband penetration rates increased population coverage, and other targets set out by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
He also mentioned that the data gives the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) required information, as well as the members of the public.
