Nigeria’s active telephone users hit 179.6m as data consumption surges

Nigeria’s active telephone subscriptions rose to 179.64 million by the end of December 2025, reflecting continued growth in mobile usage and rising demand for data services, according to figures released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The latest industry data showed that active mobile subscriptions increased from 177.43 million in November to 179.64 million in December, pushing national teledensity to 82.87 per cent.

Teledensity, a key telecommunications indicator, measures the number of active telephone connections—both mobile and fixed—for every 100 people.

It is widely used to assess telecom penetration, infrastructure development and economic activity, while also highlighting disparities between urban and rural access.

Market share data from the NCC showed MTN Nigeria maintaining its leadership position with 93 million subscribers, accounting for 51.87 per cent of the market.

Airtel Nigeria followed with 60.8 million users and a 33.9 per cent market share.

Globacom ranked third with 22.2 million subscribers, representing 12.4 per cent of the market, while T2 (formerly 9mobile) closed the year with 3.22 million customers, translating to a 1.80 per cent market share.

In terms of technology deployment, 4G networks remained dominant, accounting for 52.95 per cent of total connections.

2G followed with 37.37 per cent, while 3G stood at 5.91 per cent. 5G, now entering its fourth year of operation in Nigeria, accounted for 3.77 per cent of total connections, reflecting gradual but steady adoption.

The report also highlighted a significant rise in data consumption.

Total data usage crossed 13.2 million terabytes in 2025, underscoring Nigerians’ growing appetite for streaming, digital services, social media and online commerce.

Broadband adoption continued to strengthen alongside the surge in data demand.

Internet subscriptions rose to 112.67 million in December, pushing broadband penetration to 51.97 per cent, up from 50.58 per cent recorded in November.

The NCC data reinforce the sector’s role as a key driver of Nigeria’s digital economy, with expanding connectivity, rising data usage and increasing broadband penetration shaping consumption patterns and business activity across the country.(Guardian)