Nigeria’s telecommunications sector recorded significant growth in 2025, with about 10.3 million telephone users connected and reconnected, bringing the total number of active lines to 179.6 million by year-end. The increase pushed the country’s teledensity to 82.8 per cent, according to the latest subscription data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Teledensity, which measures the number of active telephone connections per 100 people, is widely regarded as a key indicator of telecom penetration and infrastructure development. The latest figure reflects Nigeria’s steady recovery following the nationwide NIN-SIM verification exercise, which temporarily reduced active subscriptions before being completed in the third quarter of 2024.
NCC data showed that Nigeria began 2025 with 169.3 million active users in January, steadily adding subscribers throughout the year despite regulatory clean-up efforts. Analysts say the rebound highlights sustained demand for mobile connectivity, driven by digital services, mobile banking, and increased reliance on data-driven platforms.
In terms of market share, MTN Nigeria maintained its lead with 93 million subscribers, accounting for 51.87 per cent of the market. Airtel Nigeria followed with 60.8 million users and a 33.9 per cent share, while Globacom ranked third with 22.2 million subscribers. T2 (formerly 9mobile) closed the year with 3.22 million users, representing 1.80 per cent of the market.
The data also revealed a strong preference for faster networks, with 4G technology accounting for 52.95 per cent of connections, serving about 95 million users. While 5G adoption remains modest at 3.77 per cent, only 6.77 million subscribers currently enjoy the service. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s data consumption surged by 35 per cent in 2025, crossing 13.2 million terabytes, underscoring the country’s growing appetite for digital connectivity and high-speed internet services.
source: The Guardian