The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has revealed that the number of internet users in Nigeria’s telecommunications networks have reduced to 93.2 million as at October.
The NCC’s monthly Internet Subscribers Data revealed that internet users on both Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks had decreased by 391,679 in October.
It showed that of the 93.2 million internet users in October, 93.1 million were on GSM networks, while 38,309 users were on CDMA networks.
Also, the GSM service providers lost 378,015 internet customers after recording 93.1 million users in October, as against 93.5 million it recorded in September.
The CDMA operators lost 13,664 internet users, after recording 38,309 in October, against 51,973 recorded in September.
The data revealed that MTN had 32.4 million subscribers browsing the internet on its network.
It explained that MTN recorded a decrease of 306,480 internet subscribers in October, after recording 32.7 million in September.
According to the data, Globacom has 27.2 million customers surfing the net on its network in October, giving an increase of 297,623 users, from the 26.9 million that surfed the internet on the network in September.
Airtel had 18.8 million internet users in October, the same it recorded in September.
The data also showed that Etisalat had 14.7 million customers who browsed the internet in October, revealing a decrease of 369,158 users against the 15.1 million users recorded in September.
The NCC data revealed that the CDMA operators, Multi-Links and Visafone, had a joint total of 38,309 internet users on their networks in October.
It showed that the only two surviving CDMA networks in the country recorded a decrease of 13,664 internet subscribers in the month under review from the 51,973 users they recorded in September.
According to the data, Visafone has a decrease of 13,664 customers surfing the internet in October, as it has 38,305, compared to the 51,969 users in the month of September.
Multi-Links had just four internet users in October, same as the users recorded in September.
BusinessDay reports however show the trend is not a new one. Data from the Nigerian communications communication earlier this year had shown a steady decline over six consecutive months in the total number of Internet subscribers to the four GSM networks in the country. Subscriptions dropped to 91,192,371 in April 2016, maintaining a monthly decline from 97,824,017 in November 2015.
The decrease in internet usage further highlights Nigeria’s low broadband penetration which currently stands at 10 percent, whereas the country’s approved National Broadband Plan (NBP) targets 30 per cent broadband penetration which is expected to be achieved two years from now.
CALEB OJEWALE WITH AGENCY REORTS
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