The National Communications Commission has stated that as of April 2023, there were 223.8 million mobile phone customers in Nigeria, and in the first quarter of 2023, telecommunications and ICT services contributed N2.508 trillion to the country’s GDP.
According to Nairametrics, the NCC’s director of public affairs, Reuben Muoka, revealed this in a statement on Tuesday.
In addition, he stated that there were 157 million Internet users and 92 million broadband subscribers within the same time period.
Citing data from the National Bureau of Statistics, the NCC reported that in the first quarter of 2023, ICT and telecom services in Nigeria contributed N2.508 trillion to the country’s GDP.
“The telecoms and information services baskets, which are made up of 46 different economic sectors, were used to calculate the telecoms sector’s contribution to GDP.
“The creative and stable telecoms regulatory framework adopted by the NCC is to be attributed for the sustained bright outlook in the Nigerian telecoms industry.
“Generating 820.8 million dollars for the Federal Government from 5G spectrum license fees was one of the primary highlights of the telecoms industry’s performance throughout the period.
Three operators, MTN, MAFAB, and Airtel, each contributed the fee.
The NCC stated that MTN and MAFAB had already begun offering 5G services after receiving their licenses in December 2021, while Airtel, which acquired its license in December 2022, planned to do so in June.
The NCC stated that MTN and MAFAB had already begun offering 5G services after receiving their licenses in December 2021, while Airtel, which acquired its license in December 2022, planned to do so in June.
They stated that the launch of Starlinks broadband services, a satellite-based wireless broadband service with potential nationwide coverage, was another significant development in the industry.
Muoka noted that the telecom sector’s growth figures demonstrated a remarkable track record of economic benefits to Nigeria, citing the 223.6 million phone subscribers in Nigeria as of April 2023 as evidence.
