By Azeez Disu

According to new data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Telecommunication companies in the country registered 16.72 million subscribers in the first nine months of the year.

This brings the total number of active GSM lines in the country to 211.85 million subscribers. The growth in the total number of subscribers has been sustained above the 200 million mark since April 2022.

MTN Nigeria mobile subscribers rose almost 10% to 74.1 million in nine months to end September, but it has taken a hit from new SIM registration rules.

The company disclosed that it is still feeling the impact of the country’s SIM registration regulations, which restricted the connectivity of unregistered cellphone users on the network, as mobile subscribers declined by 57 000 in its third quarter to end September.

Globacom also increased its subscriber base to 59.39 million by registering 4.58 million subscribers. Airtel came behind with 58.40 million subscribers after registering 4.48 million to increase its base. 9mobile registered 53,231 new users to increase its subscriber base to 12.84 million.