Latest data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) released on its website this week shows that the country's leading telecom operator, MTN, lost more than six million internet subscribers in five months.

Though the data shows that internet users on Nigeria's telecom networks reduced generally to 93.6 million as at February 2016 compared to 97 million in December 2015, MTN seems to be the most affected telco among the existing four.

Recent statistics show the telco's number of internet users has declined from September 2015 till February 2016, when the most recent data is available.

The highest recorded loss so far for MTN was in the month of February when it lost 2.61 million internet subscribers.

Though still the market leader with over 35 million subscribers in the internet subscriber data (GSM) market, MTN has lost a total of 6.23 million subscribers in the five months under review.

While Airtel and Etisalat have risen and fallen in the said period, Glo added more subscribers all through – albeit on a small scale.

With the entry of ntel in March and commencement of paced commercial operations this week on its newly inaugurated 4G/LTE-Advanced network, MTN – as well as other telcos - would have to adopt a new strategy to stem the dwindling subscriber base in this segment of the market.

ntel, Nigeria's fifth mobile network operator, claims to have the fastest high-speed Internet access available.

Though monitored reports say ntel's data plans are not affordable in comparison to existing competitors' rates, its 4G network is said to offer speed access of up to 230 Mbps and the company says this provides data to suit the needs of those who have heavy contents and softwares to download.

ntel's 4G LTE is currently available in Abuja and Lagos and, according to its CEO, Kumar Abass, will be available in other states in Nigeria by May and through the second half of the year.

Abass had earlier predicted that the Nigerian telecoms market would be dominated by data and broadband offerings by 2020, based on the increasing demand for data and mobile broadband services in the country and the global shift from voice to data communication.

Efforts to seek a direct comment from MTN Nigeria was not successful.