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9mobile is losing more customers as 7,127 were ported to other networks in September

Online Niel November 11, 2024

Telecom company 9mobile is yet to see any respite from its declining customers as 7,127 subscribers were ported to other networks in September alone.

According to data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), out of a total of 7,886 outgoing portings recorded this month, 9mobile accounted for 90% as the other three network operators, MTN, Airtel and Globacom shared 10% from porting out.

This is despite the recent announcement of new management for the company following its acquisition by LH Telecommunications Limited.

Entrance gate

In terms of inbound porting, MTN, which is the largest operator by number of subscribers, has gained more customers from other operators. Of the 7,886 inbound porting reported for the month, MTN received 4,987 customers from other networks, accounting for 63% of the total inbound porting.

Data shows that Airtel also got 2,205 customers from other networks, while Globacom gained 664 customers from other operators.

9mobile, which has lost many customers to other networks, also recorded the least incoming porting as only 30 subscribers moved to the network in the month under review.

The carrier subscription database also reflects the porting pattern as of the end of March. According to NCC data, MTN Nigeria maintained its leadership position with 78 million total active subscriptions despite the impact of the NIN-SIM connection exercise during that period.

Airtel recorded 53.7 million active subscribers in September to maintain its second position, while Globacom came in third after losing over 40 million subscribers, leaving the telco with only 19 million at the end of the month.

With months of consistent subscription losses, 9mobile was left with just 3.6 million active subscriptions at the end of September.

Why do I carry subs

From a peak of 22,539 in July 2015, the number of mobile phone subscriber ports in Nigeria has steadily declined over the years to an average of 3,000 in a month. While mobile network operators (MNOs) have attributed the decline to improvements in service quality, the telecoms regulator believes it is a combination of factors.

According to NCC, in addition to the quality of service, most subscribers equally ported to other networks as they wanted to enjoy cheaper call and data rates on various promotions offered by network operators.

What you should know

In early July, 9mobile announced that it had been acquired by the relatively unknown LH Telecommunication Limited to reposition the company.

According to a statement issued by the company, the acquisition of a majority stake in the Nigerian telecommunications company has been approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) as required by law.

The investment, which was approved by the African Export Import Bank (AFREXIM), 9Mobile’s main creditor in May 2023, resulted in a change of control of 9Mobile in favor of the new investor through the issuance of new shares amounting to 95.5% of 9Mobile . to the new investor in return for injecting fresh capital into the company.

Following the capital injection, the new nominated investor appointed a new Board for the company. An accomplished and versatile entrepreneur with over 36 years of experience in strategic sectors of the African economy, Thomas Etuh has been appointed as the new Chairman of the 9mobile Board. Other directors on the board include Nahim Abe Ibraheem and Femi Edun.

LH Telecommunication Limited has also nominated Senator Daisy Ehanire Danjuma, Michael Ikpoki, Ibrahim Puri, Gloria Danjuma and Emmanuel Etuh as new board members of 9Mobile.