According to the market statistics posted by the National Communications Authority (NCA), as of the end of August 2016, the total number of mobile voice subscribers had increased from 36,739,810 in July 2016 to 36,912,019. This represented a percentage increase of 0.47 per cent and put the total penetration rate for the month under review at 132.44 per cent.

Between June and July, the percentage increase in subscribers was just 0.34 per cent, while the total penetration rate for the month of July was 132.08 per cent.

The month of June witnessed a low of 0.22 per cent growth, bringing the total penetration rate for the period under review to 131.89 per cent.

Gainers

MTN’s voice subscriber figures for the period of August stood at 17,890,958. This represents a percentage increase of 0.66 per cent over July 2016’s figure of 17,774,481.

Subsequently, MTN’s market share for the month under review was 48.47 per cent, making it the most dominant player in the highly competitive industry.

Vodafone’s mobile voice subscribers increased from 8,160,351 at the end of July 2016 to 8,223,957 as of the end of August 2016. This represents a percentage increase of 0.78 per cent.  As a result, Vodafone’s market share for August 2016 was 22.28 per cent, the second biggest telecoms company in the country by subscriptions.

tiGO’s voice subscribers rose from 5,211,811 during the period to 5,225,021. This indicated a percentage rise of 0.25 per cent, bringing the company’s market share for the month under review to 14.16 per cent.

Airtel’s voice subscribers increased from 4,636,374 as of the end of June 2016 to 4,642,569 as of the end of August 2016.

This represents a percentage increase of 0.13 per cent. Its total market share for the month under review was 12.58 per cent.

Interestingly, Expresso’s voice subscriber figures increased from 101,881 as of the end of July 2016 to 106,975 as of the end of August 2016.

This represents a percentage increase of five per cent, bringing its total market share for the month under review to 0.29 per cent.

Loser

Glo was the only company among six to record a loss in voice subscriber numbers as it decreased from 854,912 as of the end of July 2016 to 822,539 at the end of August 2016, reflecting a percentage decrease 3.79 per cent for the month. This brings its total market share for the month under review to 2.23 per cent.

Glo has been struggling to find a better footing in the telecom space and, therefore, its performance comes as no surprise to industry watchers.

Fixed telephony

In the fixed telephony area, there are two operators; Vodafone and Airtel. As of August, 2016, the total subscriptions for the fixed operators stood at 256,751. Vodafone recorded a total subscriber base of 249,043, while Airtel ended the month with 7,708 subscribers.