MTN Nigeria Loses Subscribers in NIN-SIM Card Linkage Push

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MTN Nigeria, the country's largest mobile operator, saw a significant drop in internet subscribers due to the government's push to link all SIM cards with National Identity Numbers (NIN).

In January, MTN lost over 2.8 million subscribers, the most since May 2023. This decline stands in contrast to its competitors, Airtel and Globacom, who actually gained subscribers during the same period. Airtel solidified its position as the second-largest internet service provider by adding nearly 900,000 subscribers, while Globacom also saw a modest increase.

The drop can be attributed to the Nigerian Communications Commission's (NCC) directive requiring all phone lines to be linked with a verified NIN. MTN took swift action to comply, implementing the directive and launching public awareness campaigns. The deadline for linking NINs was initially set for March 29th, 2024, but has since been extended to July 31st.

This isn't the first time MTN has faced challenges related to SIM card registration. In 2015, the company received a hefty fine for failing to disconnect unregistered lines. The recent subscriber loss highlights the potential disruption of stricter regulations, although the overall impact on the industry was lessened by gains from Airtel and Globacom. The smaller operator, 9Mobile, continued its subscriber decline, losing nearly 95,000 users in January.

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