Nigeria’s Telecom Subscribers Decline as Data Consumption Hits Record High
The report captures a dual reality—while the overall number of telecom subscribers is declining, data consumption continues to surge to record levels. This trend reflects the combined effect of regulatory clean-up measures and the growing dependence of Nigerians on mobile internet services for daily activities.
The Nigerian telecommunications industry is undergoing a period of transformation, according to the latest performance data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for July 2025. The report captures a dual reality—while the overall number of telecom subscribers is declining, data consumption continues to surge to record levels. This trend reflects the combined effect of regulatory clean-up measures and the growing dependence of Nigerians on mobile internet services for daily activities.
In July, active telecom subscriptions in the country dropped to 169.3 million, representing a decline of more than 2.4 million users compared to the previous month. As a result, Nigeria’s teledensity—the measure of active phone connections per 100 inhabitants—fell to 78.11%. The NCC attributed the drop largely to the continued deactivation of SIM cards not linked to verifiable National Identification Numbers (NINs). This regulatory exercise, designed to enhance security and improve the accuracy of industry data, has seen millions of inactive or unregistered lines removed from the system.
The market landscape remains highly concentrated. MTN Nigeria continues to dominate with 89.1 million subscribers, giving it the largest share of the sector. Airtel follows with 56.5 million users, while Globacom accounts for 20.7 million. The most notable change comes from 9mobile, which managed to add customers for the first time in nearly two years. The operator’s subscriber base rose to 2.7 million, signaling a potential recovery after prolonged struggles in a highly competitive market.
The report also reflects ongoing shifts in network technology usage. 4G connections now account for the majority of lines at 50.85%, underlining Nigeria’s strong appetite for high-speed internet. 2G networks, however, still serve a sizeable segment of the population at 38.6%, particularly in rural areas. Meanwhile, 5G adoption—though still modest—continues to grow, climbing to 3.17% of total connections, a sign that next-generation networks are beginning to gain traction.
Despite the decline in subscriptions, Nigeria’s digital economy shows no signs of slowing down. Data consumption hit an all-time high of 1.13 million terabytes in July, reflecting increased demand for streaming services, e-commerce, remote work, and social media usage. This unprecedented level of data traffic highlights the central role of mobile broadband in the country’s digital transformation.
The NCC emphasized that its enforcement of SIM-NIN linkage and other audits is laying the groundwork for a more secure and transparent telecommunications sector. These regulatory efforts aim to create a healthier environment for operators and consumers alike, while strengthening the reliability of industry statistics.
The sector’s economic contribution remains significant. Telecommunications accounted for 14.40% of Nigeria’s GDP in Q4 2024, up from 13.94% in the previous quarter. With broadband penetration on the rise and data usage setting new records, the telecom industry continues to serve as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic growth and digital inclusion.
