Nigeria’s telecom sector witnessed a surge in data usage in May 2025, with total data consumption hitting 1.04 million terabytes, the highest monthly figure ever recorded since January 2023, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
This data milestone comes despite a decline in both active internet subscriptions and mobile line activations across major telecom operators like MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile.
Record Data Usage in Nigeria: May 2025 NCC Report
- May 2025 Data Consumption: 1.04 million terabytes
- April 2025 Data Consumption: 983,283 terabytes
- Previous High: January 2025, with 1 million terabytes
This surge reflects growing demand for video streaming, social media, gaming, and remote work applications, even amid rising service costs.
Internet Subscriptions Decline Amid Price Hikes
The NCC’s report shows total internet subscriptions in Nigeria declined from 141.9 million in April to 141.5 million in May 2025.
This drop follows a 50% price increase implemented by all major telecom operators in Nigeria, affecting subscriber behaviour:
- MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile experienced a combined drop from 141.4 million to 141 million subscriptions.
- Mobile network operators (MNOs) remain dominant but are adjusting to market shifts caused by higher tariffs.
Mobile Subscriber Base Also Shrinks Slightly
Active mobile line subscriptions fell from 172.6 million in April to 172.4 million in May 2025. The contraction was mainly driven by:
- MTN Nigeria: Lost 258,313 subscriptions, falling to 90.2 million active users.
- 9mobile: Lost 291,214 subscriptions, now at 2.6 million active users.
In contrast:
- Airtel Nigeria: Gained 342,597 subscriptions, growing its base to 58.9 million.
- Globacom: Maintained a stable base of 20.6 million subscribers.
Nigeria Mobile Market Share Breakdown – May 2025
- MTN Nigeria: 52.33%
- Airtel Nigeria: 34.17%
- Globacom: 11.96%
- 9mobile: 1.55%
Despite losing subscribers, MTN remains Nigeria’s largest mobile network operator by market share.
Teledensity Declines Alongside Subscriptions
With fewer active lines, Nigeria’s teledensity — the number of telephone connections per 100 people — also dipped slightly:
- April 2025 Teledensity: 79.78%
- May 2025 Teledensity: 79.65%
- Based on Nigeria’s 216 million population estimate.
Nigeria’s Telecom Market Faces Mixed Signals
While data consumption in Nigeria continues to grow, the latest figures highlight a balancing act between increasing service costs and user retention.
- Key Insight: High data usage does not automatically translate into subscriber growth, especially in price-sensitive markets like Nigeria.
- Operators may need to refine pricing models and service offerings to sustain both data traffic and subscription numbers.
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