Nigerians are using less data following a dramatic 50 per cent surge in telecom tariffs approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). According to the latest data, the country’s internet consumption dropped by over 100,000 terabytes (TB) in just one month after the new rates came into effect.
Figures from the NCC show that internet traffic fell from 1 million TB in January 2025 to 893,054.80 TB in February, the same month the new pricing regime kicked in. Although usage rebounded slightly in March to 995,876.10 TB, it still lagged behind January’s total.
The hike, which started on January 20, raised prices across several services. Voice calls jumped from ₦6.40 to ₦9.60 per minute, SMS rates climbed from ₦4 to ₦6, and the cost of 1GB of data surged from ₦287.50 to ₦431.25. This marks the first major price adjustment in more than ten years.
The move comes after telecom operators repeatedly cited rising inflation, energy costs, and forex shortages as threats to profitability. While some dip in February internet use is typical due to seasonal patterns, this year’s sharp decline stands out.
“Consumers are very sensitive to price changes in data and telecom services,” said IT expert Jide Awe. “A 50 per cent increase in such a short time will likely prompt a behavioural shift, especially among low and middle income users who form the bulk of the market.”
Big Revenues, Bigger Decisions
Despite the slowdown in consumption, the price increase appears to have boosted telecom revenues. MTN Nigeria, which leads the market with 90.49 million subscribers, posted ₦529.44 billion in data earnings in Q1 2025—a record figure.
“Looking ahead, we anticipate continued momentum in service revenue, underpinned by strong demand for data and a proactive approach to customer value management,” said MTN Nigeria CEO, Karl Toriola. He added that the new pricing structure is expected to support further revenue growth in coming months.
Mobile subscriptions also continued to rise, reaching 172.43 million in the first quarter. Internet subscriptions climbed to 142.05 million, while broadband penetration expanded to 47.73 per cent. These figures suggest that despite rising costs, digital access remains on the rise.
Yet, the coming months will be crucial in determining whether users adjust to the higher tariffs or scale back even further. For now, the numbers suggest that while telecom giants are enjoying higher profits, everyday Nigerians are being forced to rethink their data habits.
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