Mobile Growth Surges as Nigeria’s Phone Users Near 180m—NCC

Nigeria’s mobile sector closed 2025 on a strong note as active telephone users climbed to 179.64 million, marking another leap in the country’s fast-expanding digital landscape. Fresh data from the Nigerian Communications Commission showed steady month-on-month growth, with subscriptions rising from 177.43 million in November to the new December figure. This uptick pushed national teledensity to 82.87 per cent, signalling stronger telecom penetration and widening access to connectivity.

Teledensity, which tracks telephone connections for every 100 residents, continues to serve as a barometer for Nigeria’s digital progress. Although the indicator includes both fixed and mobile lines, the growing reliance on mobile devices remains the sector’s main engine of expansion.

Broadband Surge Signals New Digital Habits

The NCC report revealed shifts that reflect how Nigerians now consume digital services. Data usage reached 13.2 million terabytes in 2025, demonstrating a sharp rise in streaming habits, social media activity and online commerce. Internet subscriptions followed the same trajectory, climbing to 112.67 million by December. Consequently, broadband penetration inched upward from 50.58 per cent in November to 51.97 per cent a month later.

This broadening of high-speed access remains central to the country’s digital economy ambitions, which aim to strengthen productivity and support the growing online marketplace. More households and businesses appear to be depending on faster connections for work, entertainment and financial transactions.

MTN Maintains Lead as Competition Intensifies

Market dynamics shifted only slightly through the final quarter of 2025. MTN Nigeria kept a commanding lead with 93 million users, representing 51.87 per cent of the entire market. Airtel Nigeria followed with 60.8 million subscribers, strengthening its 33.9 per cent share. Globacom remained in third place with 22.2 million customers, amounting to 12.4 per cent of the market, while T2 (formerly 9mobile) held 3.22 million subscribers, translating to 1.80 per cent.

Network preferences also showed a clear trend. 4G connections were responsible for 52.95 per cent of total mobile activity, while 2G held 37.37 per cent. The country’s 3G footprint continued to shrink at 5.91 per cent. Meanwhile, 5G—now in its fourth year of deployment—accounted for 3.77 per cent, reflecting a slower but consistent pace of adoption.

Nigeria’s mobile sector remains one of its most resilient industries, even in the midst of shifting economic conditions. Rising data usage, expanding broadband access and steady subscription growth continue to underscore the sector’s central role in Nigeria’s digital transformation. As the appetite for fast and accessible internet deepens, the country’s telecom ecosystem appears set for another year of structural expansion and evolving consumer behaviour.