Etisalat Loses More Market Share To Glo, MTN

In real terms, Nigeria’s telecoms sector contributed ₦1.3 trillion naira to Nigeria’s GDP in the third quarter of 2016. In perhaps a reflection of the tough economic climate, this was a 1.8% decrease in growth compared to the previous quarter. Quarter on Quarter, growth dropped in real terms from 1.5% in the previous quarter to 0.9% The lowest since Q3 2011. Telecoms subscribers grew quarter on quarter by 0.8% from 153.2 million in September 2016 to 154.5 million in December 2016. Year on year, total number of GSM subscribers grew by 3.66% to 154,124,602 subscribers as at December 2016. CDMA and Fixed Wireless however declined year on year by 89.87% and 55.03% respectively. Reflecting the dominance of GSM technology among telecoms subscribers.

The report also showed that MTN continued to maintain its dominance in the GSM sector, having 40% of the total number of GSM subscribers. Etisalat had the least number of subscribers at 15% and was the only subscriber that witnessed a decline in the number of subscribers.

MTN, despite a decline in market share, maintained its lead of GSM internet subscription at 34.56%, followed closely by Globacom at 29.40%. Etisalat had the smallest number of GSM subscriptions at 14.97%, down from 15.65% in December 2015.