In a dramatic shift for Nigeria’s telecom landscape, Globacom has lost over 3.2 million internet subscribers in just six months, marking the steepest decline among the country’s four major mobile operators. This massive Glo subscriber loss has pulled its user base back to levels not seen in over a decade.
New data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) reveals the sharp drop, which presents a rare and significant opportunity for 9mobile, Nigeria’s smallest operator, to finally gain ground after years of stagnation.
State of the Market
Globacom
9mobile
Why is Glo Losing Subscribers?
The massive Glo subscriber loss is rooted in both regulatory and structural challenges. The decline began following the NCC’s enforcement of the SIM-NIN linkage policy, which aimed to sanitise Nigeria’s mobile subscriber database and adds another layer of security if you have a stolen or lost Android smartphone. In March 2024, Glo reported 62.1 million active voice subscribers, but by mid-September, that figure had plummeted by roughly 43 million users, largely due to the removal of inactive or unregistered SIMs.
However, regulation is only part of the story. Globacom has consistently underinvested in its network infrastructure compared to its peers. This has left Glo vulnerable to fibre cuts, vandalism, and unreliable power, leading to poor service quality. Users across the country have reported unreliable signals, a major issue for activities that require a stable connection, such as the evolution of mobile gaming. Data shows Glo experienced over 100 major network outages between January and May 2025 alone.
Can 9mobile Capitalize on This Opportunity?
This situation presents a golden opportunity for 9mobile. The company recently signed a landmark national roaming agreement with MTN Nigeria, giving its customers access to MTN’s extensive 2G-4G network. This instantly improves 9mobile’s coverage and service reliability without requiring massive capital investment.
However, not everyone is convinced that 9mobile’s rise is guaranteed. Industry experts caution that success will depend on sustained investment and clear governance. Wole Adetuyi, CEO of Swift Telephone Network, noted that while 9mobile has a proper board, “the question is whether they have—or are willing to give—the financing needed to scale.”
For now, the race between Globacom and 9mobile is less about dominance and more about survival. But with the right moves and a focus on leveraging its new network capabilities to reach more users, for example those looking to promote a WhatsApp channel, 9mobile may finally have a clear path to break from the bottom of the pack and challenge the status quo in the Nigerian telecom market.
