Nigeria has gained 3.12 million Internet users in May 2019, the latest monthly Internet subscribers data obtained from the Nigerian Communications Commission has shown.

However, this is lower than the number of new Internet users recorded by mobile network operators in April in which operators gained 3.6 million new users.

The statistics showed that overall Internet users rose to 122,624,417 in May from the 119,506,430 recorded in April, showing a 2.6 per cent growth in subscribers.

According to the data, Airtel, MTN and Globacom gained more Internet subscribers during the month under review, while 9mobile was the big loser and a major aspect that might have contributed their loss is the much complained about 9mobile data plan for internet users. Also, new Internet users were added on the 800 MHz spectrum owned by MTN.

The breakdown of the statistics revealed that MTN gained the most with 2,406,627 new Internet users, increasing its subscription in May to 52,433,020 from 50,026,393 recorded in April.

The data indicated that Airtel came second with 595,093 new Internet users in May, increasing its subscription to 31,932,750 in May as against 31,337,657 in April.

Also, Globacom gained 198,142 new Internet users in the month under review, increasing its subscription to 28,825,533 in May as against 28,627,391 recorded in April.

The NCC data further showed that 9mobile lost 90,866 Internet users in May and was left with 9,350,477 users in May as against 9,441,343 recorded in April.

The data revealed that 800Hz spectrum MTN got from Visafone recorded 82,637 Internet users in May as against 73,646 in April.

Meanwhile, the number of active subscribers to mobile network services in the country rose marginally by 21,491 in May 2019, the NCC data indicated.

The statistics further showed that while MTN, Airtel and Globacom gained new subscribers in the month of May, 9mobile lost some of its network users.

In April, the four mobile network operators had a total of 173,383,803 active users, which rose to 173,405,294 as of the end of May.

Further analysis of the data indicated that MTN added 80,524 new customers; Globacom gained 91,066 new subscribers; Airtel added 207,091 new users to its network; and 9mobile’s subscribers reduced by 356,826.

According to the NCC data, MTN remains the largest mobile network provider in the country by the number of subscribers, owning 37 per cent market share; it is followed by Globacom with 27 per cent market share.

Airtel is the third largest with 26 per cent market share and 9mobile holds nine per cent market share and the 800Hz Visafone spectrum has one per cent market share.