Nigeria Hits 185m Active Subscribers as Telcos Launch Poor Service Compensation

Nigeria’s telecom sector is seeing two major shifts at once. Subscriber numbers are rising again. At the same time, operators are now refunding users for poor service.

Fresh data from the Nigerian Communications Commission shows active lines climbed to 185.7 million in March. This follows the addition of over one million SIM registrations within a month.

As a result, Nigeria’s telecom subscribers continue to grow steadily. However, network quality remains a key concern for many users.

Nigeria telecom subscribers rise as refunds begin

The latest figures show a slight increase from 184.6 million users recorded in February. Tele-density also improved, rising to 85.67 per cent. Within this growing base, MTN Nigeria remains the dominant player. It controls over half of the market with 95.7 million subscribers.

Airtel Nigeria follows with 63.6 million users. Meanwhile, Globacom holds 22.6 million subscribers. 9mobile, now operating as T2, trails with 3.47 million users. Even so, growth in Nigeria telecom subscribers tells only part of the story. Many users still complain about dropped calls and slow internet speeds.

Data usage also continues to expand. Total consumption reached about four million terabytes by the end of the first quarter. Most connections still rely on 4G networks, which account for over half of usage. Meanwhile, 2G remains widely used, especially in rural areas.

5G adoption is growing slowly. It currently stands at 4.2 per cent penetration, mainly in cities like Lagos and Abuja.

Airtime refunds signal new era for telecom users

While subscriber numbers rise, regulators are taking a tougher stance on service quality. The NCC has introduced a Consumer Compensation Framework.

This policy now forces operators to refund customers for network failures. In the past, fines went to regulators. Now, affected users receive direct compensation.

Subscribers have already started receiving credits. Airtel Nigeria sent messages confirming airtime refunds for service issues between November 2025 and January 2026. Some users reported receiving between N167 and over N500. Others got smaller amounts depending on usage and location.

MTN Nigeria also began similar payouts. Affected customers received airtime credits ranging from N20 to above N341.

Speaking earlier, NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Aminu Maida, explained the move. “This is about giving back value to subscribers who have experienced poor service. It is not a refund from the regulator, but a compliance obligation placed on service providers.”

Importantly, the process is automatic. Users do not need to apply. The system detects outages at the local government level and credits affected subscribers. To qualify, a user must have used services during the disruption period. This ensures the compensation reflects real experiences.

At the same time, regulators are pushing for long-term fixes. Telecom operators have now committed to major upgrades. According to the NCC, about 12,000 network improvements are planned for 2026. This marks a sharp increase from just over 300 upgrades last year.

One major operator has also pledged more than $1 billion in new investment. The goal is clear. Improve service quality and reduce future complaints.