Nigeria’s telecommunications sector contributed 1.8 trillion naira in real terms to the country’s second quarter Gross Domestic Product.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) explained in its telecoms report for the second quarter that this represents about 9.8 per cent of the total second quarter GDP and the largest contribution to the GDP from this sector in the rebased period.
The NBS notes that due to different seasonal patterns, the contribution from this sector is usually the largest in the second quarter.
Despite the growth, the sector declined in real terms from five per cent in the previous quarter to 1.5 per cent, the lowest rate since the third quarter of 2011.“Although growth in the telecommunications sector remained positive, in contrast with the economy as a whole, year-on-year growth nevertheless dropped in real terms from five per cent in the previous quarter to 1.5 per cent, the lowest rate since 2011 Q3.
“The share of telecommunications in total real GDP had declined throughout 2010 to 2014, but for the last five quarters, growth in telecommunications has been higher, meaning the trend has reversed,” the NBS stated.
In June 2016, the total number of GSM subscribers was 149,179,083, an increase of 2,692,267, or 1.84% relative to June 2015. In both percentage and absolute terms, the year on year increases in GSM subscriber numbers have been falling steadily over the past 12 months. In March 2016, the year on year growth rate was 4.06%, and in June 2015 the rate was 12.22%. However, the number of GSM subscribers increased throughout the second quarter of 2016, from 146,866,356 in April.
Globacom continued their uninterrupted growth in subscriber numbers. With the highest quarter on quarter growth and and year on year growth rates of 4.95% and 16.20% respectively, Globacom also recorded the largest increases in absolute terms by both measures. At the end of the second quarter Globacom had 36,320,572 subscribers.
