The number of internet subscribers decreased from 154,301,195 subscriptions as at December 2020 to 141,971,560 subscriptions as at December 2021 showing an 8 per cent decline on a year-on-year analysis, due to the national identification number (NIN) sim policy.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), said in its latest report titled, ‘2021 subscriber/network data annual report’, the commission also said a total of nine million active voice subscribers were lost between 2020 and 2021.

“Nigeria’s teledensity decreased from 107.18 percent as at December 2020 to 102.40 percent by December 31 2021,” the report said.

“The number of internet subscribers decreased from 154,301,195 subscriptions as at December 2020 to 141,971,560 subscriptions as at December 2021 representing a decline of 8 percent.”

The commission said broadband penetration also decreased from 45.02 percent as at December 2020 to 40.88 percent as at December, 2021.

On the level of data usage, NCC said: “There was an increase in the volume of data consumed in the year-end December 2021 when compared with the year ended December 2020”.

“This represents about 4.46 percent decline in total subscription within the period under consideration.

“The decrease in operators’ subscriber base was attributed majorly to the effect of the directive from NCC in December 2020 to all GSM operators to suspend the sale and registration of new SIMS, SIM swaps and all porting activities.

“The objective of the audit exercise was to verify and ensure compliance by mobile network operators with the set quality standards and requirements of SIM card registration as issued by the federal ministry of communications and digital economy and the commission.”