Glo deepening subscriber base in the nation’s data market segment with flexible offers
The observed trend in the domination of Nigeria’s data market segment amongst GSM operators and others has started eliciting reactions from industry experts.
Based on statistics released by the regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) covering the first quarter (Q1) of 2017, Globacom has posted the highest data penetration among other operators in the industry.
The report showed that Globacom recorded over 27.021 million Internet users on its network. This translates to 72 per cent of the total number of subscribers on its network which stood at 37.33 million at the end of the quarter.
Whereas Globacom’s data penetration rate of 72 per cent figure is more than the industry average of 59 per cent, Business Hilights gathered further from the NCC report that the total number of Internet users in the industry stood at over 90.003 million as at the end of Q1 compared to about 152.22 million subscribers in the industry.
Closely trailed by Globacom according to the data is embattled Etisalat with a data penetration of 68 per cent, as it had about 13.01 million data users out of a total subscriber base of over 19,621 million.
Airtel came third with 56 per cent Internet penetration. Data users on its network as at March were over 19.423 million out of about 34.66 million subscribers on its network.
MTN recorded the least penetration of data users on its network in comparison with the total number of subscribers using the network. Only about 30.52 million or 51 per cent of about its 60.392 million customers subscribed to its data services.
Dominance of the Nigerian data market according to our investigations did not start this quarter, as in the last two years, Globacom has maintained lead as the preferred network on data services in Nigeria.
However, a critical section of the Nigerian data market had been working on the regulatory intelligence of the NCC to review the data price floor so as to engender sustainable competition that will pass the test of time. Analysts say data services as it stands now in the country is under-priced and the scenario is not favouring operators that do not have voice services because those with voice cover cost using revenue from voice after all.
