According to the latest report from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), a significant number of subscribers in Nigeria have opted to migrate their GSM lines from one network to another in search of better quality services. In total, 35,154 subscribers used number portability to switch networks, with major players such as MTN, Globacom, Airtel, and 9mobile experiencing this shift. The largest number of incoming number migrations was recorded for MTN, which has the largest market share of 38.58% and an impressive subscriber base of 85,005,917 as of August 2023. Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile reported the lowest number of subscribers who chose to transfer their numbers to their networks.
Number migration allows subscribers to retain their GSM numbers while moving to a new network. Incoming migration occurs when a network gains additional GSM numbers as a result of migration, while outgoing migration means that the network loses existing GSM numbers in the process.
Statistics obtained from the NCC website reveal a trend in number portability. From August 2022 to August 2023, the number of subscribers who moved their GSM lines to other networks varied each month. For example, in August 2022, 2,389 subscribers switched networks, and in September 2022, this number increased to 2,934. The months of October, November, and December 2022 recorded 2,790, 2,299, and 2,869 subscribers, respectively, who decided to transfer their numbers.
Moving into 2023, in January, 2,581 subscribers opted for number portability, and in February, March, and April, the numbers were 2,021, 2,253, and 3,076 subscribers, respectively. In May 2023, 2,992 subscribers changed networks, while in June of the same year, 2,321 subscribers made this switch. July 2023 saw a higher number of migrations, with 4,077 subscribers transferring their numbers to other networks. In August 2023, 2,592 subscribers followed suit.
Analyzing the data, it is evident that MTN dominated in terms of incoming migrations throughout the year. The highest number of subscribers moved to the MTN network in August 2022, reaching 1,617 individuals. Similar trends were observed in September, October, November, and December 2022, with numbers reaching 2,040, 1,935, 1,680, and 1,812, respectively. This trend continued in 2023, with 1,688 and 1,522 subscribers transferring to MTN in January and February. In March, April, and May 2023, MTN also recorded the highest number of incoming migrations, with numbers of 1,555, 2,096, and 2,138, respectively. This trend continued in June, July, and August 2023, with numbers of 1,545, 3,410, and 1,682 subscribers, respectively, switching to MTN.
These statistics indicate that subscribers in Nigeria are actively seeking better quality services and are willing to change networks to achieve that. As competition intensifies in the telecommunications industry, network providers will need to focus on improving their service offerings in order to attract and retain customers.
FAQ:
1. What is number portability?
Number portability is a process that enables subscribers to retain their existing phone numbers despite changing telecommunications networks.
2. How does incoming number migration work?
Incoming number migration occurs when one telecommunications network gains new subscribers as a result of migration from other networks.
3. What are the benefits of number portability?
Number portability allows subscribers the flexibility to switch service providers while keeping their existing GSM phone numbers.
Source: [NCC](www.ncc.gov.ng)