By DAYO ADESULU
Over 6,000 Subscribers Leave 9mobile in Two Months
Nigeria’s fourth-largest mobile network operator, 9mobile, is experiencing a significant decline in its subscriber base, with 6,079 customers porting out between November and December 2024.
According to the latest Incoming and Outgoing Porting Activities of Mobile Networks Operators Report by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), 9mobile saw the highest number of outgoing porting activities among all telecom operators in Nigeria during this period.
9mobile’s Outgoing Porting Numbers Surge
- In December 2024, out of a total 2,998 subscribers who switched networks, 2,188 left 9mobile.
- In November 2024, out of 4,726 subscribers, 3,891 moved away from 9mobile.
- In total, 6,079 subscribers left 9mobile in just two months.
Comparing Outgoing Porting Activities
Other telecom operators recorded significantly lower porting-out numbers:
- MTN: 236 (December) | 166 (November)
- Airtel: 269 (December) | 362 (November)
- Globacom: 305 (December) | 307 (November)
MTN Leads in Subscriber Gains
While 9mobile faced mass subscriber losses, MTN Nigeria emerged as the biggest gainer:
- December 2024: MTN gained 1,856 subscribers
- November 2024: MTN gained 3,019 subscribers
Other networks also gained from mobile number portability:
- Airtel: 835 (December) | 1,266 (November)
- Globacom: 290 (December) | 414 (November)
- 9mobile: Only 17 incoming subscribers (December) | 27 (November)
9mobile’s Market Share Plummets to 1.9%
The report highlights a significant shift in Nigeria’s telecom industry, with 9mobile’s market share dropping to a record-low 1.9% in December 2024. This is a sharp decline from its 15.7% market share in 2015, when it boasted 23.4 million subscribers.
Meanwhile, other telecom giants have continued to expand:
- MTN Nigeria: 51% market share, rising from 81.2 million subscribers (November) to 84.6 million (December).
- Airtel Nigeria: Increased subscribers from 55.4 million (November) to 56.6 million (December).
- Globacom: Recovered from a prior decline, growing from 19.6 million to 20.1 million subscribers.
What’s Next for 9mobile?
With a stagnant subscriber base of 3.2 million and ongoing losses to competitors, 9mobile faces an urgent need to revamp its strategies. The decline raises concerns about the network’s future viability in Nigeria’s competitive telecom market.
