Joy Agwunobi
Nigeria’s telecommunications industry recorded notable growth in both internet usage and mobile subscriptions as total internet traffic reached 1,152,347.24 terabytes in August, up from 1,131,255.90 terabytes in July, marking the highest monthly figure so far this year, according to the latest industry statistics released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The NCC report also highlighted an increase in broadband penetration, which rose to 105,158,577 subscriptions, representing 48.81 percent of the population, up from 104,068,105 subscriptions (48.01 percent) in July.
The growth indicates a rising reliance on digital services, as Nigerians increasingly turn to the internet for a wide range of activities. From online banking and e-commerce to educational resources and entertainment such as video streaming, consumers are integrating digital platforms more deeply into their daily lives.
In the mobile telecommunications segment, subscriber numbers rebounded after a slight decline in July. Total active mobile subscriptions across Nigeria’s four major mobile network operators (MNOs) climbed to 171.3 million in August, up from 169 million in July. The resurgence was largely driven by gains by Airtel and MTN.
Airtel led the charge with 1.5 million new subscriptions, increasing its total active connections to 58 million, up from 56.5 million in July. MTN, Nigeria’s largest operator, added 499,540 subscribers, bringing its total to 89.6 million. Globacom also saw growth, registering 173,244 new activations to reach 20.9 million subscribers.
T2 Mobile (formerly 9mobile), however, did not record any growth in August, maintaining 2.7 million active subscriptions. This came after a strong rebound in July, when T2 added 290,601 new users, expanding its base from 2.4 million in June. T2’s July gains were attributed to its recent corporate rebrand, a national roaming partnership with MTN, and ongoing network modernisation efforts with technology vendors including Huawei.
Despite the shifts, MTN maintained its dominant position in the Nigerian market, controlling 52.31 percent of all active subscriptions. Airtel followed with 33.89 percent, Globacom held 12.21 percent, while T2 remained at the bottom with a 1.6 percent market share.
The growth in subscriber numbers also drove an increase in Nigeria’s teledensity ,the number of active telephone connections per 100 inhabitants which rose to 79.14 percent in August from 78.11 percent in July.
The NCC data highlights a continuing trend of digital adoption in Nigeria, with consumers increasingly engaging with internet services and mobile platforms, while operators work to expand network coverage and modernize infrastructure to meet growing demand.
