Vodafone overtakes Tigo to become second largest network

Second quarter results from the National Communications Authority (NCA) indicates that Vodafone Ghana is now the second largest mobile operator in Ghana after MTN.

Tigo Ghana was the second largest network with 3,767,664 subscribers until the end of May this year when it lost 545,081 subscribers in June and dropped to 3,222,583 subscribers representing 17.59% of the mobile market in Ghana.

Vodafone, however, gained 190,729 more subscribers and rose from 3,235,366 subscribers to 3,426,095 subscribers by the end of June 2011, which is 18.7% market share.

As at May 2011 Tigo Ghana had 532,293 subscribers more than Vodafone Ghana, but currently Vodafone has 203,512 more subscribers than Tigo.

According to Telecomeye.com, the Vodafone gains might have been driven mainly by Tigo's losses, but industry analysts say it is too early for Vodafone to rejoice because Mobile Number Portability could either turn the tables in favour of Tigo or push Vodafone further up.

When Vodafone took over Ghana Telecom two years ago, they promised to turn around the fortunes of the company in two years and that promise seems to be seeing the light of day.

Officials at Vodafone Ghana say it is too early to comment on the matter, but the Consumer Manager at Tigo Ghana, Rosy Fynn has been telling Adom News that Tigo had maneuvered all the difficult corners and were now gaining market share.

But the second quarter results do not seem to reflect a reversal of the loss in market share at Tigo.

Telecomeye.com reported last month that Tigo Ghana had, since the beginning of the year, been the largest loser amongst the mobile operators.

Its subscription for the first half of the year peaked at 4,135,774 subscribers in February 2011 but has dropped significantly by 22% within four months to 3,222,583 subscribers.

Meanwhile market leaders MTN continue to gain market share with 174,864 new subscribers to inch up their market share to 52.19% from the previous 50.88% in May 2011.

Airtel Ghana recorded a marginal increase from its May 2011 subscriber base of 1,818,198 to 1,888,332 subscribers in June 2011, increasing its market share by 0.46% to 10.31% by the end of June 2011.

The only CDMA mobile operator, Expresso continued the consistent losing spree by losing a further 19,525 subscribers by the end of June 2011, reducing its subscriber base to 220,290, which represents 1.2% market share.

Meanwhile, with the launch of Mobile Number Portability (MNP), it is evident that the terrain will be rough for the telecom operators to keep their subscriber base.

Story by Samuel Nii Narku Dowuona/Adom News/Ghana with files from TelecomEye.com