The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reported that active subscriptions for internet services across mobile, fixed and VOIP networks in the country increased by 2.7 million in the first quarter (Q1) of this year.
The latest report by the commission now indicated that the country’s total internet connections had risen by 1.07% to 157.5 million in Q1 2023, compared to the 154.8 million subscriptions as of the end of Q4 2022.
The telecom sector’s regulatory commission attributed the internet subscriptions surge in the quarter and past ones to improved investments in critical infrastructure by the major mobile network operators (MNOs), namely MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile.
The internet data from the NCC in the quarter under review showed that the four key players dominated the market with a combined total of 156.9 million subscriptions while the VOIP operators, namely Smile and Ntel, accounted for 340,614 internet subscriptions; and the other ISPs recorded so far 221,267 subscriptions.
Industry analysts believe that the increasing internet subscriptions in the country reflected the increasing investments by the MNOs in broadband infrastructure and NCC’s regulatory measures targeted at deepening internet connectivity nationwide, particularly in the rural communities nationwide.
The commission also indicated that broadband subscriptions also rose to 92 million at the end of Q1 2023, up from 90.4 million recorded as of the end of last year.
With the latest figures, the country’s broadband penetration stood at 48.21% at the end of March (Q1) this year.
