MTN Nigeria recorded a 30.1 per cent increase in network data traffic in the first nine months of 2026, as rising internet consumption and growing demand for digital services drove higher usage across its subscriber base.
The telecommunications operator disclosed this in its financial results for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, showing that average monthly data consumption per active user increased by 16.2 per cent to 15.3 gigabytes (GB), compared with the corresponding period of 2025.
The increase reflects a broader trend across Nigeria’s telecommunications industry, where demand for internet connectivity continues to grow. Data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) showed that national data consumption rose by almost 47 per cent to approximately 1.6 million terabytes in July 2026, compared with the corresponding period of 2025.
MTN’s active data users increased by 12 per cent to 57.2 million, while the number of smartphones connected to its network rose by 12.4 per cent as more subscribers upgraded to internet-enabled devices.
The figures suggest that increased consumption among existing users, alongside subscriber growth, contributed to the higher volume of data traffic recorded during the period.
The growth in usage also translated into stronger earnings from data services, with MTN reporting a 35.8 per cent increase in data revenue during the nine-month period, making the segment its largest contributor to service revenue growth.
Karl Toriola, chief executive officer of MTN Nigeria, attributed the performance to growing digital adoption, higher usage and increasing demand for connectivity, supported by continued investment in network coverage, capacity and quality.
The company said smartphone penetration on its network reached 66 per cent, representing an increase of 0.9 percentage points from the previous year, as customers continued migrating towards 4G- and 5G-capable devices.
Rising data consumption is also increasing the need for telecommunications operators to expand network capacity and invest in infrastructure to accommodate higher traffic and maintain service quality.
MTN increased capital expenditure, excluding leases, by 14.2 per cent to N864.8 billion during the nine months, with investment accelerating in the third quarter as the company stepped up its 2026 network rollout.
The operator said the additional spending was directed towards expanding network coverage and capacity, improving service quality and supporting the growth of its home broadband business.
Its fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network now carries approximately 13 per cent of its total data traffic, which MTN said helps free up capacity on its mobile network while improving network efficiency and supporting the expansion of fixed broadband services.
The company expects subscriber growth, deeper data adoption and increasing demand for home broadband to continue supporting its business performance as it enters the final quarter of 2026.
“We enter the final quarter with confidence and remain on track to deliver our guidance. Our priorities are clear: sustain growth, protect margins, scale home broadband and rebuild fintech momentum, while creating sustainable value for all our stakeholders,” Toriola noted.
