9mobile has lost its appeal as the porting destination for Nigerian customers

Key takeaways

  • Number porting in Nigeria has dropped significantly, with only 55k customers switching networks in 2024, continuing a multi-year decline.
  • MTN gained the most new customers in 2024, outperforming other networks in porting gains.
  • 9mobile, once the dominant choice for ported customers, has lost its appeal, with far fewer subscribers switching to the network in recent years.
  • Overall porting activity has slowed, suggesting improved customer retention or fewer incentives to switch providers.

The Nigerian telecom market has seen a sharp drop in number porting, with just 55k customers switching networks in 2024. MTN emerged as the biggest winner, attracting the highest number of new ported customers, while 9mobile—once the dominant choice—has seen a major decline. Airtel also continues to struggle in gaining ported users.

The steady decline in porting suggests that Nigerian subscribers are either satisfied with their current networks or finding fewer reasons to switch. As competition shifts, telecom providers may need to focus more on customer retention rather than relying on number porting to gain new users.

Source:

Nigerian Communications Commission

Period:

2013-2024
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