Nigeria’s telecommunications industry recorded another rise in user numbers as active telephone subscriptions increased to 173.54 million in September 2025, up from 171.57 million in August.
The data, released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), showed that the sector continues to expand despite economic challenges and infrastructure costs.
Internet users on GSM networks also grew slightly, reaching 140.36 million within the same period. The report noted that the country’s teledensity climbed to 80.05 per cent, showing a steady rise in mobile access across urban and rural areas.
MTN Nigeria remained the largest operator with 90.33 million subscribers, accounting for just over half of the market share. Airtel followed with 58.47 million users, while Globacom recorded 21.39 million active lines. T2 Mobile, previously known as 9mobile, had 3.11 million subscribers, showing a mild recovery from earlier figures.
Broadband access reached a record 49.34 per cent in September, up from 48.81 per cent the previous month. 4G networks made up the bulk of broadband connections, while 5G usage rose to 3.4 per cent as more consumers adopted newer technology.
Although more people were connected to the internet, total data traffic dropped slightly from 1,152,347 terabytes in August to 1,147,133 terabytes in September. The fall may be linked to slower economic activity and reduced spending on data services due to higher living costs.
The increase in broadband coverage comes as the Federal Government moves ahead with plans to extend 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cable nationwide. When completed, this will raise Nigeria’s fibre network to 125,000 kilometres, linking cities, rural areas, schools, hospitals, and public offices.
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The project, developed through a public-private partnership, aims to make internet services cheaper and more stable, cutting access costs by as much as 60 per cent. It also supports the government’s goal of achieving 70 per cent broadband penetration under the National Broadband Plan (2020–2025).
Analysts say that continued investments, along with supportive policies, could further close the connectivity gap and improve service quality. However, issues such as power shortages, high right-of-way fees, and poor last-mile connections remain key obstacles to full network expansion.
With ongoing private and government efforts, Nigeria remains one of Africa’s fastest-growing telecom markets and a major player in the continent’s digital transformation.
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