As Nigerians continue to struggle with linking their SIM cards to their National Identification Number (NIN), the teledensity in Nigeria has recorded a major deadline.
This is coming as telecommunications subscribers continue to express displeasure over the barring of their lines by telcos, despite having linked their NIN with their SIM cards.
While the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has given a possible reason why SIM cards already linked to NIN are being barred, teledensity in the country dropped from 115.63% to 102.30% last September.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports 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.
However, Nigeria witnessed a marginal growth in active voice and internet subscriptions as contained in the latest telecommunications statistical indicators released by the telecoms regulators.
Meanwhile, the Commission said the latest telecommunications statistical indicators were adjusted to reflect the latest population growth figures and align with international best practices.
According to a statement signed by Reuben Muoka, NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, the adjustment is reflected in the telecom industry statistical reports of September, October, and November 2023.
Muoka disclosed that it was predicated upon the Nigerian Population Commission (NPC)’s projection of Nigeria’s population at 216,783,381, as of 2022, replacing the previously used 2017 projection of 190 million people.
“With the consequential adjustment, which is in line with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)’s calculation of teledensity, the nation’s teledensity dropped from 115.63% to 102.30% in September, while Broadband penetration witnessed a similar drop from 45.47% to 40.85% in the same month.
“However, the active voice subscription statistics witnessed a marginal growth from 220,361,186 to 221,769,883 as of September 2023. In addition, Internet subscriptions also enjoyed a marginal growth, from 159,034,717 in August 2023 to 160,171,757 in September 2023,” the statement reads.
An analysis of the report shows that in October 2023 the industry experienced a 0.19% growth in active voice subscriptions while teledensity stood at 102.49% with Internet subscriptions increasing by 0.60% compared to September 2023.
In November of the same year, the industry also experienced a 0.46% growth in active voice subscriptions. Teledensity stood at 102.97% with a 0.57% increase in Internet subscriptions when compared to October 2023.
Muoka insisted that the adjustment by NCC is consistent with Section 89 Subsection 3(d) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 (NCA 2003), in which the Commission is mandated to monitor and report on the state of the Nigerian telecommunications industry, provide statistical analysis and identify industry trends concerning services, tariffs, operators, technology, subscribers, and issues of competition.
Commenting on the development, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, affirmed the nation’s telecom statistical adjustment process as an appropriate step to maintain the integrity of data about the Nigerian telecom industry as collected, collated, and published by the Commission.
He noted that this will also ensure the accurate measurement of the Commission’s progress towards attaining increased broadband penetration rates, improved quality of service, and increased population coverage, among other targets set out in the Strategic Plan for the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
He also said such data provides information for both the International Telecommunications Union to which Nigeria belongs, and other development agencies as well as the operators, investors, multilateral agencies, and the public.