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The number of registered SIMs in the telecommunication sector hit 323.62 million in February according to Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), with 6.98 million new SIMs being registered in the first two months of 2023.
While the number of registered new SIMs grew by 6.98 million from 316.64 million as of December 2022 to 323.62 million as of February 2023, the number of new active lines in the period only grew by 4.61 million from 222.23 million to 226.84 million in the period under review.
According to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission, the total number of inactive lines as of February 2023 was 96.79 million.
The total number of SIMs registered increased, but it was still below its August 2021 peak of 328.12 million.
In Nigeria, there has been an increase in mobile connectivity, which has helped the adoption of the Internet and communication.
As more individuals become reliant on their mobile phones, this dependency has been fueling the adoption of mobile connectivity.
NCC cautions against spyware linked to YouTube, Ajibola Olude, the Chief Operational Officer of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, provided support for this claim by stating that “One is the continuing adoption and Use of telecom services.
Also, the Internet of Things is starting to take off in the country. Every item in smart homes requires a SIM card, which is another factor in the rising number of active subscribers.
The next growth wave in the mobile sector is anticipated to be driven by the introduction of new technologies like 5G. The International Monetary Fund predicts that 5G will be the primary force behind the advancement of mobile technology and better internet speed growth in the upcoming years.
Although its price continues to cause concern in developing economies, mobile technology is quickly replacing desktop computers as many people’s primary means of accessing the Internet.
In a new report titled ‘Internet Adoption Trends during COVID-19’, the International Monetary Fund said, “However, relative to per capita gross income, a better metric of affordability, the average mobile-broadband basket price is nine times higher in low-income developing countries than in advanced economies, making it even more difficult for low-income developing countries to bridge the gap in internet access.”
