Over 8,000 Nigerian Telecom Subscribers Switched Networks in January 2025

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reported a 190% increase in mobile number portability in January 2025, with 8,708 subscribers switching telecom operators, up from 2,998 in December 2024.

9mobile Suffers Major Customer Losses

The report shows that 9mobile lost the most subscribers, with 6,716 users porting to other networks, reflecting ongoing struggles for the telecom provider. Despite once holding a 15.7% market share in 2015, its current subscriber base remains stagnant at 3.2 million, a sharp decline from 23.4 million users a decade ago. The company only gained seven new subscribers through porting in January.

MTN, Airtel, and Glo Gain Subscribers

Other major operators benefited from the surge in number portability:

• MTN gained 5,551 new subscribers via porting while losing 1,188.
• Airtel added 2,414 porting customers and lost 399.
• Globacom (Glo) recorded 736 incoming subscribers, with 405 outgoing.

Why Are More Nigerians Switching Networks?

The increase in number porting is attributed to several factors, including:

• Poor network quality in some areas.
• Competitive pricing from rival operators.
• Better customer service and data incentives.
• Disruptions caused by the NIN-SIM linkage policy, which led to mass SIM deactivations in 2024.

Telecom Sector Rebounds with 169.3 Million Active Subscribers

Despite the high number of customers switching networks, Nigeria’s telecom sector recorded a significant rebound in January 2025:

• MTN added 2.9 million new users, reaching 87.5 million subscribers.
• Airtel grew from 56.6 million to 57.6 million subscribers.
• Glo increased from 20.1 million to 20.5 million users.
• 9mobile remained stagnant at 3.2 million users for the third consecutive month.

What This Means for the Telecom Industry

The surge in mobile number portability highlights a growing demand for better telecom services in Nigeria. As competition intensifies, telecom providers may need to enhance network coverage, improve pricing strategies, and offer better customer service to retain their subscribers.