Nigeria’s telecommunication giant, MTN Nigeria, has lost about one million subscribers in one month, according to Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The latest industry statistics released by the commission showed that the telecommunication company lost 999,891 subscribers between June and July, 2018.
According to the data, the number of MTN subscribers dropped from 66,488,706 in June to 65,488,815 in July, 2018, representing two percent drop in its subscribers’ base.
Last week, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had directed MTN Nigeria to refund $8.1 billion shareholders’ dividends it allegedly repatriated through illegal means.
On Tuesday, the Federal Government through the office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, after it conducted “high-level calculation” which showed that the company had defaulted in taxes, ordered MTN to repay another $2 billion tax arrears.
Globacom’s subscribers increased by 214,646 to 40,323,154, while Airtel’s subscribers inched up by 149,880 to 40,048,328 in July.
On the other hand, 9mobile’s subscribers reduced by 246,211 from 15,811,684 in June.
The communication regulator said the number of active mobile lines dropped from 162.31 million subscribers as at the end of June, 2018 to 161. 43 million subscribers in July.
Presently, MTN Nigeria still retains its leadership position in the telecommunication market, accounting for 40.57 percent of the Global System of Mobile telecommunication (GSM) market share. Globalcom followed with 24.98 percent, while Airtel accounted for 24.81 percent share. 9mobile recorded 9.64 percent share.
