Nigeria’s telecom industry is witnessing a major shift, with 9mobile losing 6,079 subscribers in just two months, according to the latest report by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Subscriber Exodus from 9mobile
The data reveals a massive outflow of customers from 9mobile to rival networks:
•November 2024: 9mobile lost 3,891 subscribers, accounting for 82% of all outgoing porting activities.
•December 2024: The trend continued, with 2,188 more subscribers leaving the network.
How 9mobile Compares to Competitors
While 9mobile experienced heavy losses, other operators had minimal outgoing porting numbers:
•MTN: Lost 166 customers in November and 236 in December.
•Airtel: Lost 362 in November and 269 in December.
•Globacom: Lost 307 in November and 305 in December.
9mobile Fails to Attract New Customers
While 9mobile saw massive subscriber exits, it struggled to attract new users:
•November 2024: Only 27 subscribers joined 9mobile, compared to MTN (3,019), Airtel (1,266), and Globacom (414).
•December 2024: 9mobile gained just 17 new subscribers, while MTN added 1,856, Airtel gained 835, and Globacom secured 290.
9mobile’s Market Share Hits Record Low
The NCC report also revealed that 9mobile’s market share has dropped to just 1.9%, a steep decline from its 15.7% share in 2015, when it had 23.4 million subscribers.
Currently, 9mobile’s total subscriber base has stagnated at 3.2 million, remaining unchanged for two consecutive months.
Rival Networks Continue to Grow
While 9mobile struggles, its competitors are expanding:
•MTN: Increased its market share to 51%, growing its subscriber base from 81.2 million in November to 84.6 million in December 2024.
•Airtel: Subscriber base grew from 55.4 million to 56.6 million in December.
•Globacom: Recovered from earlier losses, growing from 19.6 million to 20.1 million by year-end.
What’s Next for 9mobile?
The ongoing decline highlights the competitive nature of Nigeria’s telecom industry. 9mobile must address issues related to network reliability, service quality, and customer retention to avoid further erosion of its market position.
If the trend continues, 9mobile risks falling further behind as Nigeria’s telecom giants MTN, Airtel, and Globacom continue to strengthen their hold on the market.
