Nigeria’s Internet Data Usage Hits Record High Despite Falling Subscriptions
Nigeria’s internet usage has reached a record peak even as millions of subscribers abandon telecom networks due to rising costs. Fresh data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) shows that nationwide data consumption surged to 1.1 million terabytes in July 2025, the highest on record. This milestone comes just two months after the country crossed the one-million-terabyte mark for the first time in May.
The NCC attributed the surge to a growing shift toward faster broadband networks. According to the regulator, 4G users rose to 50.85%, while 5G adoption climbed to 3.17%. Meanwhile, reliance on 3G services plunged to just 7.38%, reflecting the rapid phase-out of older networks in favor of next-generation technology.
However, the boom in data demand contrasts with a decline in total internet subscriptions. Industry figures revealed that subscriptions across mobile, fixed wired, ISP, and VoIP services dropped to 138.7 million in July from 141.1 million in June. Leading Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) — MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile — collectively lost over two million lines within a single month. Airtel suffered the steepest fall, shedding 2.4 million active lines, while MTN and Globacom recorded smaller declines. Only 9mobile posted a slight increase, though it still trails with just 1.61% market share.
Despite subscriber losses, MTN maintained dominance with 52.70% market share, followed by Airtel with 33.42% and Globacom at 12.26%. The contraction has also pushed Nigeria’s teledensity down from 79.22% in June to 78.11% in July. Analysts warn that this paradox of falling customer bases but rising data demand presents both opportunities for revenue growth and challenges in sustaining infrastructure.
Telecom executives say the trend underscores the sector’s balancing act. Airtel Nigeria CEO, Dinesh Balsingh, noted that urbanisation and digitisation are fueling “an exponential explosion of data usage” across major cities. He added that operators are ramping up 5G investments to meet soaring demand. But with a recent 50% hike in tariffs, operators face the tough task of expanding network capacity without losing more subscribers who are already struggling with affordability.
Source: The sun