According to recently published telecommunications industry performance reports by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), over twenty-eight million new internet users were added by operators in 2020, representing a 22% growth from December 2019 (125,728,328). The report indicates that of all the telecoms service providers, only Globacom grew its data subscription at a higher rate of 39%.
NCC released a statement on Monday revealing that the telecoms sector contributed a significant 12.45% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2020, thereby playing a huge role in getting Nigeria out of recession. Growth in internet subscriptions in 2020 was principally responsible for the contribution. As of December 2020, the total number of Nigeria’s internet subscribers stood at 153,873,786.
Specifically, Globacom recorded the highest growth among the operators, moving from 28,934,439 data users at the end of 2019 to 40,106,659 by the end of 2020, which was an addition of 11,172,220 users. Glo was followed by MTN which grew by 21%, and Airtel which recorded a 20% increase. 9mobile on its part recorded a 12% decline in data users during the same period.
This latest update from NCC is consistent with earlier reports released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) last month. The bureau had noted that Globacom led the growth in Nigeria’s telecommunications industry in the third quarter of 2020.
Globacom’s remarkable performance in the sector is believed to be a result of the continuous network upgrade which enhances data service delivery to its subscribers. It also offers subscribers attractive data packages with unmatched value.
Glo data services are powered by the huge capacity international submarine cable called Glo1, a wholly-owned facility that brought unprecedented bandwidth from Europe to Nigeria and other West African countries.
Additionally, Globacom owns a robust infrastructure and is the only operator in Nigeria with an integrated domestic and international network. Its high-speed optic fiber network spans thousands of kilometers covering almost the entire Nigerian landmass. The network is configured in multiple ‘self-healing’ rings to ensure undisrupted service.
