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Huawei Overtakes Apple for the Second Position on Global Smartphone Market

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International Data Corporation (IDC) preliminary data  for Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, shows that  smartphone vendors shipped a total of 342.0 million units during the second quarter of 2018 (2Q18), resulting in a 1.8% decline when compared to the 348.2 million units shipped in the second quarter of 2017.

 

The drop marks the third consecutive quarter of year-over-year declines for the global smartphone market and only the fourth quarter of decline in history.

 

IDC believes this is the result of churn in some highly penetrated markets, although many high growth markets still exist and should return smartphone shipments to overall growth.

 

The arrival of Huawei in the second position marks the first quarter since 2Q10 where Apple has not been the number one or two smartphone company in terms of market share.

 

Huawei delivered shipments of 54.2 million units to move into the second position with a record high market share of 15.8%.

 

Samsung maintained a comfortable lead, although indications from its recent 2Q18 earnings call suggest its mobile division revenues will face challenges moving forward.

 

Ryan Reith, program vice president with IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers, said “The continued growth of Huawei is impressive, to say the least, as is its ability to move into markets where, until recently, the brand was largely unknown,”

 

“It is worth noting that Apple moved into the top position each of the last two holiday quarters following its product refresh, so it’s likely we’ll see continued movement among the top ranked companies in 2018 and beyond.

 

“For most markets, the ultra-high end ($700+) competition is largely some combination of Apple, Samsung, and Huawei, depending on the geography, and this is unlikely to change much in the short term.

 

“At the same time, Xiaomi, OPPO, and vivo are all slowly pushing their customer base upstream at a price tier slightly lower than the top three.

 

“This is an area they should all watch closely as the builds in this segment are getting increasingly more advanced.”

 

Anthony Scarsella, research manager with IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, said “The combination of market saturation, increased smartphone penetration rates, and climbing ASPs continue to dampen the growth of the overall market.”

 

“Consumers remain willing to pay more for premium offerings in numerous markets and they now expect their device to outlast and outperform previous generations of that device which cost considerably less a few years ago.

 

“To contest this slowdown, vendors will need to focus on new innovative features and form factors combined with incentives and promotions to drive growth in many of these highly competitive markets moving forward.”

 

Highlight of smartphone companies shows that Samsung once again remained the leader in the worldwide smartphone market despite a 10.4% decline in shipments from last year.

 

The flagship S9/S9+, which launched late in the first quarter, witnessed slower than normal sales according to Samsung.

 

Samsung claims the slowdown is due to both intensified competition at the high end and an overall sluggish smartphone market.

 

The Korean giant will look to bolster sales in the coming weeks as we await the arrival of the new Galaxy Note 9.

 

The new Note will be unveiled on August 9th and is expected to launch earlier than the Note 8 to gain a foothold ahead of pending fall launches from Apple and others.

 

The device is expected to feature a bigger battery, new S-Pen capabilities, and increased performance.

 

Huawei surpassed Apple for the first time to move into the second position based on global market share.

 

It continues to lead the China smartphone market with a record-high market share of 27.0% in 2Q18.

 

In the first half of this quarter, Huawei’s P20/P20 Pro series found strong demand in the $600-$800 price segment, helping Huawei build a high profile in the market.

 

In the second half, with the release of its “GPU Turbo” technology, Huawei continued to earn a good reputation. 618 promotions led to strong sales for Honor models in the online channels as the Honor brand continues to be a key driver of growth for the Chinese tech giant.

 

Apple dropped to the third spot for the first time despite its second quarter growth.

 

Apple shipped 41.3 million iPhones, representing modest growth of 0.7% over the 41.0 million units shipped last year.

 

The iPhone continued to perform well at the high end as the iPhone X remains a top seller in many markets.

 

Apple will look to regain control of the market this fall with the expected launch of three next generations of iPhone models.

 

 

The new models are rumored to bring different screens sizes, price points, increased performance, and new features to the table when they arrive next quarter.

 

Xiaomi has pulled ahead of Samsung for the number 1 position in India over the past few quarters and has now closed the gap with Samsung in Indonesia as it ramped up its local production to address the increased demand during Ramadhan period, while also expanding its online channel presence and opening up more Mi home stores in the country.

 

OPPO faced a slowdown in key markets like India and most of Southeast Asia as it eased back on its aggressive marketing and sales activities in the region.

 

Despite this, the company still managed to grow 5.1% over last year as it continued its expansion into other markets such as the Middle East & Africa.

 

The recent launch of the Find X has also garnered Oppo some praise as the innovative, bezel-less and notch-less design has grabbed the attention of many.


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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Nigeria, Ghana Trigger Stunning 45 Percent Surge in MTN Dividends

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MTN Group delivered impressive financial and operational achievements for 2025, boosted by strong performances in MTN Nigeria and MTN Ghana, as well as solid earnings from MTN South Africa.

Nigeria, Ghana Trigger Stunning 45 Percent Surge in MTN Dividends

The three core markets of Africa’s largest mobile provider enhanced profitability, free cash flow, and shareholder dividends by 45%.

IT Web Africa reported that Ralph Mupita, group CEO and president, MTN, highlighted that the telecoms giant’s robust commercial momentum across key markets capped the final year of its Ambition 2025 strategy, while laying the foundation for a new long-term growth phase under Ambition 2030.

“The Group’s overall performance in 2025 was excellent. In the final year of our Ambition 2025 strategy, we were proud to have exceeded the 300 million customers milestone,” he said.

MTN revealed that it now serves more than 307 million voice subscribers, 172 million data users, and 70 million Mobile Money customers across 16 African markets, reflecting the continent’s growing demand for digital connectivity and financial services.

The operator credited its results to disciplined commercial execution and sustained investment in network infrastructure, with R38 billion spent during the year to expand capacity, improve coverage and enhance service quality.

The group reported that data traffic surged 27%, while average monthly data consumption per user climbed to 12.5GB, up from 10.8GB a year earlier, reflecting Africa’s fast-growing appetite for digital services.

Financially, the performance was driven by MTN’s largest markets.

In constant currency terms, MTN Nigeria grew service revenue by 54.9%, while MTN Ghana increased service revenue by 35.9%.

Meanwhile, MTN South Africa recorded 2% growth, demonstrating operational resilience in one of the continent’s most mature and competitive telecom markets.

MTN Group service revenue rose nearly a quarter to R218 billion, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation climbed to R98.5 billion, supported by R3.6 billion in expense efficiencies.

Mupita stressed that the strong results translated into robust free cash flow and improved return generation, allowing the board to declare a dividend of 500 cents per share, up from 345 cents the previous year.

“This comfortably exceeds the minimum dividend of 370 cents we had previously guided,” he said.

The group also announced a R6 billion share buyback programme as part of an enhanced shareholder remuneration framework aimed at delivering stronger long-term returns.

Alongside its results, MTN unveiled Ambition 2030, a strategy centred on three platforms, connectivity, fintech and digital infrastructure, as it seeks to capture the next wave of growth driven by data adoption and financial inclusion across Africa.

“We are hugely excited about Africa’s potential. We are well positioned to leverage our scale, footprint and brand leadership to capture the significant structural growth opportunities identified,” said Mupita.

 

Source: IT Web Africa


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ATCIS Urges FG to Ensure Safety of Consumers Data

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Association of Telephone, Cable TV, and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS) non-profit consumer rights group dedicated to protecting the rights, interests, and welfare of telecommunications subscribers, has urged the Federal Government to ensure safety of telecom consumers’ data hosted by government agencies.

ATCIS Urges FG to Ensure Safety of Consumers Data

Dr Sina Bilesanmi, president of the body stated this World Consumers Day in Lagos.

He alleged that said subscribers” data are being jeopardised by some of its agencies.

Bilesanmi urged government to ensure that every subscriber in Nigeria can use digital service without fear of physical, financial, or data-related harm.

The ACTIS president said safety in the telecommunication sector extends beyond physical hardware to include data privacy and protection from cyber fraud.

“We call for stricter enforcement by the Standard organization of Nigeria (SON) to eliminate substandard mobile devices and Cable Tv equipment that pose fire or electric hazards.

“We also want safe services from telecoms that are transparent – free from hidden charges and misleading advertisements”, he said.

He urged subscribers to utilize platforms like ACTIS as well as NCC and even FCCPC web portal when they encounter service failures.

He also tasked FG on hosting Nigerian Data Privacy in the country.

He said: “We ask for more robust surveillance and swifter penalties for entities that violate consumer safety standards. We admonish the subscribers to be aware and speak out, a vigilant consumer is a protected consumer.”


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New Horizons Nigeria Commissions ICT Centre @Adeleke University to Boost Tech Skills

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In a major boost to technology education and digital innovation in Nigeria, New Horizons Systems Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of the US-based global ICT training organization, New Horizons Worldwide, has commissioned a state-of-the-art ICT facility at Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State.

New Horizons Nigeria Commissions ICT Centre @Adeleke University to Boost Tech Skills

New Horizons Nigeria

The facility, named the Elder (Dr.) I.C. Egbuta ICT Centre, was constructed and donated to the university by New Horizons Nigeria as part of its commitment to equipping Nigerian universities with modern infrastructure capable of preparing students for global competitiveness in the digital economy.

The commissioning ceremony which held on Tuesday March 3rd, 2026 drew dignitaries from the university community, industry, and academia.

The event began on a vibrant note as cultural dancers from the university’s Theatre Arts Department entertained arriving guests with lively traditional performances.

The new ICT center represents another milestone in the long-standing partnership between New Horizons and Adeleke University, a collaboration that has spanned more than a decade.

Through the partnership, the institution has delivered project-based and certification-based ICT training programs, producing thousands of students with globally recognized digital skills and professional certifications across diverse technology disciplines.

Also, the Elder (Dr.) I.C. Egbuta ICT Centre features four fully equipped ICT studios with high-end computer systems, full air-conditioning, and seating capacity for over 750 users. The facility also includes modern conveniences intended to enhance digital learning and professional certification training.

The building was officially commissioned by Chief (Mrs) Modupe Adeleke Sanni, who represented the Chairman of the University Council, Chief Adedeji Adeleke.

In her remarks, she commended New Horizons Nigeria for its sustained investment in the university and reaffirmed the council’s commitment to strengthening the partnership in the years ahead.

Also speaking at the event was the Vice Chancellor of Adeleke University, Professor Solomon A. Adebola, who praised the organization for its consistent contributions to the technological advancement of the institution and the empowerment of Nigerian youths through practical digital training.

Furthermore, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of New Horizons Nigeria, Mr. Tim Akano expressed appreciation to the university’s leadership and governing council for their support and enduring collaboration.

He reiterated the organization’s vision of equipping Nigerian universities with facilities and training that will enable students to compete effectively in the global technology ecosystem.

Mr. Akano further noted that New Horizons remains committed to driving innovation within Nigerian universities, with the long-term goal of enabling institutions like Adeleke University to generate research-driven technological solutions capable of attracting patent rights and global recognition.

New Horizons Nigeria, widely recognized as Africa’s largest ICT training organization, continues to strengthen its footprint in Nigeria’s digital education sector. In 2025, the institution received the prestigious Best ICT Training Company award from CompTIA in South Africa.

This further reinforce its leadership position within the continent’s technology training ecosystem. Also, as a franchise of New Horizons International, which operates in over 90 countries across six continents, the organization has consistently aligned with global best practices while addressing local capacity gaps. The organization currently provides ICT training services to more than 30 universities and nearly 200 high schools nationwide.

The center would be used for the training of high-end technical courses like Cyber Security, Web Development, Artificial intelligence, Full Stack, Graphics and CompTIA courses like Hardware, Network and Security Plus.

New Horizons have won about 350 national and international awards in the last 20 years of its operation and it trains over 100,000 students yearly across 27 universities and 150 secondary schools, as well as corporate organizations, government agencies and retail offices.

Students trained by New Horizons Nigeria are always well-sought after in the labour market after graduation and the certificate they obtain are recognized in all the 90 countries where New Horizons have offices.

In conclusion, the ceremony ended with an energetic cultural performance by the university’s theatre group from the Theatre Arts Department, which drew enthusiastic applause from the audience.

The commissioning of the Elder (Dr.) I.C. Egbuta ICT Centre further strengthens the collaboration between New Horizons and Adeleke University and is expected to deepen efforts toward producing highly skilled ICT professionals and innovators capable of contributing to Nigeria’s growing digital economy.

 

 

 

 


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