Posted by According to the available industry subscriber figures available, in May 2024, Globacom lost 66% of the subscribers it had in the previous month of April 2024.
That 66% loss translated to a steep drop from 62 million subscribers in April to 21 million active subscribers in May. And it has kept losing more subscribers since then till the most recent industry records from September 2024.
Mobile Network Subscribers in September 2024
Here is how the four big telcos in Nigeria stand in terms of active subscribers as at September 2024.
- MTN: 78 million subscribers
- Airtel: 53 million subscribers
- Globacom: 19 million subscribers
- 9mobile: 3.6 million subscribers
While all of the network operators lost some subscribers to the NIN-SIM registration exercise, Glo has lost such a huge number that its situation is not just a result of NIN-SIM issues.
For example, between April and September, MTN Nigeria lost only 4 million subscribers, Airtel Nigeria lost 9 million, and 9mobile lost 5.3 million. Glo’s 21 million subscriber loss is a clear aberration.
This kind of upheaval has not been seen in the industry since the sharp loss of subscribers by 9mobile after the exit of Etisalat International in 2017. 9mobile has struggled to catch up since then, though it recently got a fresh injection of funds from new investors this year.
This steep drop in subscribers puts Globacom in the same category as 9mobile and unless the Green giant is able to pull of a miracle, it will also struggle to catch up with the two big boys left on the scene, MTN and Airtel.
There is now a gap of 34 million subscribers between Airtel and Globacom. Between MTN and Globacom is a gap of 59 million subscribers.
Even if Globacom and 9mobile were to merge now, they would have a combined subscriber base of 22.6 million only, still a far cry from what Airtel Nigeria alone has.
How exactly is this going to play out? Any takers?
References
Nigerian Communications Commission Subscriber / Operator Data (source)
Author: Mister Mobility
Mister Mobility, a techie with a passion for storytelling. I have owned, used, and reviewed hundreds of mobile phones since 2001. I started Mobility Nigeria Tech Blog in 2008.
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It appears it is basically about QoS and managerial lapses..
As far as data is concerned, this network has never cut it for me. Data mysteriously, consistently, getting depleted, something that doesn’t happen with MTN and Airtel.
Each time. I attempt to give Glo a trial, once more, they disappoint.
I currently have their SiM in a matchbox.
You are spot on about this being a Quality of Service issue.
Glo has generally been terrible for calls and for data, for many subscribers.
They seem to have been more fixated on celebrity endorsements than on improving their network.
Truthfully, it was only a matter of time.