Nigeria’s telecom giants, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and Airtel Nigeria, have recorded a combined revenue of N6.782 trillion in their latest reporting cycles, highlighting a decisive shift from voice calls to data-driven earnings.
MTN Nigeria Communications Plc posted N5.2 trillion in revenue for the year ended December 31, 2025, representing a 52.9 percent year-on-year increase. Data revenue surged by 74.5 percent to N2.78 trillion, overtaking voice revenue, which rose 42.1 percent to N1.85 trillion—confirming broadband usage as the company’s primary growth driver.
Meanwhile, Airtel Nigeria, reporting under Airtel Africa results for the nine months ended December 31, 2025, generated $1.13 billion from its Nigerian operations. Converted at N1,400/$, this amounts to approximately N1.582 trillion, bringing the combined total for both operators to N6.782 trillion.
Data continues to dominate earnings across both networks. MTN’s N2.78 trillion data revenue accounts for over half of its service income, while Airtel Nigeria reported a 65.4 percent growth in data revenue—its fastest-growing segment. Combined, data earnings from both operators are estimated to have exceeded N3.5 trillion, underscoring the structural dominance of broadband consumption in Nigeria.
Rising usage intensity is further driving growth. MTN recorded average monthly data consumption of 13.1GB per user, while Airtel Nigeria reported 10.7GB per customer. Smartphone penetration also climbed to 66.1 percent on MTN’s network and 54.1 percent on Airtel, reflecting increased reliance on streaming, social media, and digital financial services.
MTN Nigeria CEO, Karl Toriola, attributed the strong performance to resilient demand and improving macroeconomic conditions, noting that increased data traffic and operational efficiency supported profitability recovery.
The company reported a profit after tax of N1.1 trillion for 2025, marking a sharp turnaround from the previous year’s loss, while its EBITDA margin rose to 52.7 percent.
At the group level, Airtel Africa recorded a 41.3 percent increase in operating profit and a 136.6 percent surge in profit after tax, with Nigeria remaining its largest market. EBITDA margins in Nigeria reached 57.8 percent, reflecting the high profitability of data services.
Airtel Africa CEO, Sunil Taldar, described Nigeria as a key growth engine, citing rising data consumption, improved average revenue per user (ARPU), and better operating conditions. He added that the company would continue investing in network expansion and digital financial services.
With a combined subscriber base exceeding 140 million, the N6.8 trillion revenue milestone cements Nigeria’s position as one of Africa’s largest telecom markets. More significantly, the earnings mix signals a structural transformation—where gigabytes, not call minutes, now define growth and profitability in the sector.
