Mobile subscriber switching in Nigeria declined in November, with fewer users changing networks amid easing competitive pressure across the telecoms sector.
According to the latest Mobile Number Portability (MNP) data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), 1,392 subscribers ported their numbers in November, representing a 12.8 per cent drop from the 1,597 recorded in October.
Mobile number portability allows users to switch service providers without changing their phone numbers and is widely seen as an indicator of consumer satisfaction and competition within the telecoms market.
All four major mobile network operators recorded lower porting volumes during the month.
MTN, the market leader, attracted the highest number of incoming subscribers but still saw a decline. The operator recorded 827 port-ins in November, down from 937 in October, a 11.7 per cent month-on-month decrease.
Airtel experienced one of the sharpest drops among major operators, with incoming ports falling from 357 in October to 282 in November, representing a 21.0 per cent decline.
Globacom posted a more moderate slowdown. The operator recorded 264 incoming ports in November, slightly lower than the 277 recorded in October, a 4.7 per cent decrease, suggesting relatively stable subscriber movement.
T2, formerly 9mobile, continued to record the lowest porting activity in the market. The operator attracted just 14 subscribers in November, down from 26 in October, marking a 46.2 per cent decline, albeit from a low base.
Overall, the drop in porting activity points to a slowdown in subscriber switching following higher movement in October, even as competition among operators for mobile users remains intense. The NCC’s monthly MNP data provides insight into how consumers respond to pricing, service quality and network performance across the industry.
