It said in its monthly subscriber’s operator data posted on its website on Wednesday that the active mobile lines at the end of July decreased to 161.42 million from the 162.30 million in June.

NCC said with 161.42 million lines recorded in July and 162.30 million in June, the lines decreased by 881,586.

Also the Mobile Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) for active mobile lines in July was 125,444 as against 217,566 in June, a decrease of 92,122.

The report said the number of fixed wired/wireless for active mobile lines in July was 140,582 compared to June, which had 140,627 lines, indicating a decrease of 45 lines.

According to NCC, the number of Voice-Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) was 101,131 in July compared with 97,941 recorded in June, recording an increase of 3,190.
It also revealed that Teledensity reduced by 0.69 in July to 115.57 as against 116.26 in June.

Teledensity is the number of telephone connections for every 100 individuals living within an area and it varies widely across the country.

NCC also said the number of connected lines in July stood at 238.21 million as against 239.33 million in June, a decrease of 1.12 million.

The CDMA for connected lines for July was 246,126 as against 3.58 million in June, a decrease of 3.33 million, the subscribers’ data revealed.

The report said the number of fixed wired/wireless for connected lines in July was 350,998 compared to June that had 350,644, an increase of 354 lines.

It also showed that the number of VOIP for connected lines in July was 667,763 as against 642,734 in June rising by 25,029 lines.

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It said the acquisition cannot be done without a public inquiry to enable stakeholders determine the future of Visafone in the overall interest of the industry.

The regulator’s stance followed a heated debate on the matter by representatives of major telecoms firms in the country who made presentations during the stakeholders meeting at the NCC headquarters in Abuja.

Present at the meeting were MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria Limited, Glo Mobile Nigeria, 9mobile Nigeria Limited and other operators.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, said the NCC as a regulatory body for the industry considered it imperative to hold the public inquiry to give room for active participation and deliberations that would facilitate informed decision on the issue.

He drew the attention of stakeholders to the enabling law which empowers NCC to take decision on the transfer of licence and resources, including the 800MHz Spectrum from Visafone Communications Limited to MTN Nigeria Communications Limited.

Prof. Danbatta said: “The Commission seeks your active participation in the deliberations that would lead to an informed decision consistent with our mandate to create an enabling environment for effective competition in the industry as well as to ensure the provision of qualitative and efficient telecommunications services throughout the country.

“As you may all be aware, the demand for spectrum has increased due to the emergence of disruptive innovations such as mobile broadband, web applications, cloud computing, Internet of Things (IOT) and the proliferation of smart devices among others.

“Consequently, in order to reap the benefits of effective utilisation of spectrum as well as improve operational efficiency and regulatory excellence, the Commission in accordance with its mandate as enshrined in the Nigerian Communications Act NCA 2003 embarked on re-planning of some of its Frequency bands

“Specifically in 2013 the commission re-planned the use of 800Mhz band to accommodate technology development in the telecom industry and new Frequency Assignments were conveyed to the operators according to their frequency holdings in the 800MHz band.

“Visafone is one of such incumbents on the spectrum that got 10MHz FDD Assignments. Subsequent to the re-planning of the band, Visafone wrote to the Commission requesting for transfer of its licence including the 800MHz spectrum to MTN.”

However, during their presentations, the representatives of Airtel and 9mobile opposed the plan to transfer the licence of Visafone to MTN , insisting that MTN already had over 38 per cent of spectrum holding in the industry.

They argued that should the NCC concede to the transfer, the development would not only create a monopoly for MTN, but make competition difficult among industrial players while a lot of telecommunications companies would be permanently disadvantaged.

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The telecommunications industry regulator made the disclosure in its monthly internet subscribers’ data on its website.

The commission said the data showed a marginal increase of 815,764 subscribers during the period.

It said that the data reflected internet users on both the Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications and the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks.

The regulator said that 92.97 million out of the 93 million internet users in September were on GSM network while 30,309 users were on the CDMA network.

The data showed that MTN had 32.5 million subscribers, browsing its network in the month under review as against 32.1 million in August, indicating an increase of 359,409 internet subscribers.

According to NCC, Globacom has 26.942 million customers, surfing its network in September, revealing a decrease of 12,405 users from the 26.955 million that surfed the network in August.

Airtel had 21.76 million internet users in September, showing an increase of 600,400 customers from the 21.16 million recorded in August.

The data also showed that 9mobile had 11.71 million customers, who browsed in September, indicating a decrease of 131,640 users from the 11.84 million users in August.

For CDMA operators, Visafone had 30,305 customers surfing its internet in September while Multi-Links had only four internet users.

Both operators had a total of 30,309 users in September, the same figure recorded by the two operators in August.

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The NCC said internet users increased from 90,124,428 in April to 91,565,010 in May, an increase of 1,440,582.

The telecommunications industry regulator made the disclosure in its Monthly Internet Subscribers Data.

The data indicates that internet users on both Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks increased from 90,154,737 in April to 91,565,319 in May.

It said that out of the 91,595,319 internet users in May, 91,565,010 were on GSM networks, while 30,309 users were on CDMA networks.

Also, the GSM service providers gained 1,440,582 internet customers after recording 91,565,010 users in May, as against 90,124,428 it recorded in April.

The CDMA operators had retained 30,309 internet subscribers in May as recorded in April.

The data also shows that MTN had 31,406,441 subscribers browsing the internet on its network in the month under review and also recorded an increase of 600,464 internet subscribers in May after recording 30,805,977 in April.

According to the NCC, Globacom has 27,402,484 customers surfing the net on its network in May, revealing an increase of 211,713 users from the 27,190,771 that surfed the internet on the network in April.

Airtel had 19,912,661 internet users in May, showing an increase of 504,811 customers from 19,407,850 recorded in April.

The data also showed that Etisalat had 12,843,424 customers who browsed the internet in May, an increase of 123,594 users from the 12,719,830 users recorded in April.

CDMA operators, Multi-Links and Visafone had a total of 30,309 internet users on their networks in May, maintaining the same record of April.

Visafone has 30,305 customers surfing the internet in May, while Multi-Links has only four internet users.

The increase in the use of the internet in May is in anticipation of the country’s broadband target of 30 per cent penetration by 2018.

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MTN Executive, Ms Amina Oyagbola who made this known in a statement in Lagos, said that the acquisition of Visafone was in line with a continued commitment by MTN to improve the quality of broadband services for its subscribers.

She said that the acquisition, which sought to leverage resources for service enhancement, was also reflective of the company’s concerted efforts to deepen the growth and roll out of broadband services across the country.

According to her, the acquisition of the CDMA network is in support of the National Broadband Plan, for the benefit of Nigerians.

“We are committed to exploring avenues for meeting our customers’ increasing data needs in line with our vision ‘to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to our customers’.

“As we work to maximise our data capabilities towards achieving broadband of international quality, our objective is to ensure that Nigerians experience a boost in the quality of broadband internet services.

“This will translate to the much needed enhanced data speeds and value to enhance personal and business productivity.

“The acquisition of Visafone highlights MTN’s commitment to Nigeria. More capacity will facilitate enhanced product/service offerings and experience in the data space to the delight of our valued customers.

“Voice is still King. However, data is becoming increasingly important in our everyday lives and our energies are focused on enhancing data and internet services to the benefit of our customers and the country at large,” she said.

Visafone is one of the leading CDMA/ICT companies in Nigeria, offering a number of services, which include voice, high speed data (3G), internet and other Value Added Services (VAS).

Visafone also provides business solutions to small and medium sized companies and corporate organisations in Nigeria.

Over 2,000 employees of Visafone were disengaged with effect from Jan 5 and were paid three months salaries as severance package.

The only employees said to be left are those in the personnel and transmission departments.

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The exercise, which began late last year, according to a source close to the company, would affect some jobs at Visafone, due to what the source attributed to duplication of responsibilities.

However, despite the expected job loss, New Mail Nigeria Online gathered that quite a lot of the Visafone staff would be retained when the merger process is finalised by the end of the first half of 2016.

Visafone was set up by one of Africa’s richest men and founder and former chief executive officer of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia.

Despite being the most suited for broadband and data services, CDMA technology platforms have faced stiff competition from more established rivals, the main reason which industry watchers attributed for the decision of the promoters to merge with MTN.

Visafone has also being struggling to compete well in a voice business dominated by GSM networks operated by top-tier firms like Globacom, Airtel and MTN.

Further challenges by data business LTE service providers such as Swift Nigeria, Smile, and Spectranet have placed the company on the brink but analysts are of the opinion that the new deal will lift some of the burden off Visafone’s shoulders, and offer some needed cash injection.

On the MTN part, the South African telco is looking to strengthen its grip on its most important market on the continent by investing in Visafone.

Although details of the deal have not been disclosed by either of the firms, it is believed that MTN is investing in Visafone’s data services in direct response to Globacom’s acquisition of 700 MHz from the Nigerian Communications Commission.

That acquisition gives Globacom the capability to do LTE (Long Term Evolution), which is obviously the next big area, thereby laying the foundation for reality on the broadband.

Globacom is the only other operator that has the licence on the 700 MHz spectrum; hence, it plans to launch LTE services.

So, sensing this scenario, MTN, not wanting to be beaten to the second place in the LTE offering, wants the Visafone licences, that is the 800 MHz and the 700 MHz, the latter which is LTE-compliant, to also quickly latch on them and begin offering LTE in Nigeria.

MTN had bought VGC Communications, the private telephone operator due to its spectrum and the fibre ring it has across Lagos. This was also another proactive move by MTN to prepare itself for landline telephony services, especially as Glo has licence and apparent capability to offer landline telephone service.

In 2006, MTN Nigeria bought VGC Communications Limited (VGCCL) to the tune of $70 million (N9.3 billion).

VGCCL was licensed by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to provide cabling and radio telephone services nationwide and had laid extensive fibre optic cables, and internet service provision.

The company was established in April 1995 with the primary objective of providing all the communications related services required by the residents of Victoria Garden City and Ikota shopping Complex.

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The telecoms regulatory body which made the disclosure in its Monthly Internet Subscriber Data for September, revealed that internet users on both Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks, increased by 1.84 million in September.

The data showed that of the 97.21 million internet users in September, 97.06 million were on GSM networks, while 151,816 users were on CDMA networks.

However, the CDMA operators lost 367 internet users, after recording 151,816 in September, against 152,183 in August.

MTN has 41.84 million subscribers browsing the internet on its network.

NCC explained that MTN recorded an increase of 423,448 internet subscribers in September, after recording 41.41 million in August.

According to the data, Globacom has 21.89 million subscribers surfing the net on its network in September. 20. 77 million surfed the internet on the network in August.

Airtel had 17.73 million internet users in September as against 17.49 million customers recorded in August.

The data showed that internet users on the Airtel network increased by 235,941 in September.

NCC also said that Etisalat had 15.59 million customers who browsed the internet in September, against the 15.54 million users in August.

The data showed that those browsing the net on Etisalat’s network rose by 57,061 in the month of September.

The NCC data also revealed that the CDMA operators, Multi-Links and Visafone, had a joint total of 151,816 internet users on their networks in September.

It showed that the only two surviving CDMA networks in the country recorded a decrease of 367 internet subscribers in the month under review, from the 152,183 users they recorded in August.

According to the data, Visafone has a decrease of 393 customers surfing the internet in September, as it has 151,530, compared to the 151,923 users in the month of August.

Multi-Links had 286 internet users in September, adding 26 customers from the August record of 260 users.

The increase in the use of the internet in the month of September showed that more Nigerians were embracing data as the next revolution as the country moves towards achieving 30 per cent broadband penetration by 2018.

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The commission which made this known in its Monthly Internet Subscriber Data, revealed that internet user on both the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) and the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks increased to about 735,239 in July.

The number of subscribers that surf the internet in June was put at 92,816,572 but increased to 93,551,811 in the month of July.

The data shows that of the 93,551,811 internet users in July, 93,403,147 were on GSM networks, while 148,664 users were on the CDMA.

Moreso, of the 93,403,147 internet users on the GSM networks in the month under review, MTN Nigeria had 41,101,886 customers browsing the internet on its network.

It stated that MTN had an increase of 616,216 internet subscribers in July after it recorded 40,485,670 users in the month of June.

According to the report, Globacom had 19,330,549 subscribers surfing the net in July as recorded in June.

Airtel Nigeria, it said, had 17,605,852 internet users in the month of July, as against 17,598,626 customers recorded in June.

Internet users on the Airtel Nigeria network increased by 7,226 in July, while Etisalat had 15,393,860 internet users in July, against the 15,285,079 in June.

Those browsing on Etisalat’s network also rose by 108,781 in the month of July.

The NCC also revealed that the CDMA operators (Multi-Links and Visafone), had a joint total of 148,664 internet users on their networks in July.

It showed that the only surviving two CDMA networks in the country listed an increase of 33,016 internet subscribers in the month under review, from the 115,648 users they recorded in June.

Visafone had an increase of 32,980 customers surfing the internet in July, rising to 148,461, compared to the 115,481 users in June.

Multi-Links had 203 internet users in July, adding 38 customers from the June record of 165 users.

It explained that the increase in the use of the internet in the month of July showed that more Nigerians were embracing ICT.

NCC noted that the country was making progress towards achieving 30 percent broadband penetration by 2018.

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