Nigerian Newsday

The number of connected mobile phones is the country rose from 266,461 in 2001 to 32,322,202 units in 2006, indicating a monumental increase of 12,030.18 percent.

According to figures provided by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) there were 3,149,422 mobile phones in 2003, up from 1,569,050 units in 2002.

The number rose astronomically to 9,174,209 in 2004 and 18,587,000 in 2005 said NCC. There were 600,321 fixed telephone lines in 2001, but the number rose to 1,687,972 in 2006, showing a modest increase of 181.18 percent.

The total for 2002 stood at 702,000 lines, rising to 872,473 in 2003 and 1,027, 519 lines the following year. The figure rose marginally to 1,223,258 units in 2005.

NITEL, now privatized, accounted for 540,662 fixed lines in 2001, while private Telephone Operators (PTOs) shared the remaining 59,659 lines.

In 2002, NITEL had 555,466 lines, compared to the 146,534 lines operated by the PTOs while the national telecom company accounted for 539, 405 of the 1,027,519 fixed lines in 2003.

Surprisingly, the PTO’s operated 520,251 fixed lines in 2004, up from the 507,268 lines which NITEL had.

NITEL’s dwindling fortunes continued in 2005 as it accounted for a mere 447,979 fixed lines out of a total of 1,223,258 lines available.

With an estimated population of 126 million as at December 2005 and 140 million from December 2006, the country only boasted of a combined total of 866, 782 fixed and mobile phone lines in 2001.

The figure increased to 34,010,174 connected lines in 2006, showing a steep rise of 9,592.19 percent.

Calculated on the earlier population estimates, teledensity rose from 0.73 in 2001 to 24.29 in 2006, indicating an increase of 3,227.40 percent.