Sunday, April 26th 2026

?Nigeria’s Active Mobile Subscriptions Reach 169.3 Million in January 2025, Reflecting Telecom Sector Recovery?


?Nigeria’s Active Mobile Subscriptions Reach 169.3 Million in January 2025, Reflecting Telecom Sector Recovery?
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As of January 2025, Nigeria's telecommunications sector has achieved a significant milestone, with active phone subscriptions reaching approximately 169.3 million, representing about 78% of the nation's estimated population of 216 million .?

Market Share Distribution

The Nigerian telecom market is dominated by four major operators:?

  • MTN Nigeria: 87.5 million subscribers (51.79%)
  • Airtel Nigeria: 57.7 million subscribers (34.11%)
  • Globacom: 20.5 million subscribers (12.15%)
  • 9mobile: 3.3 million subscribers (1.94%)?

MTN maintains its leadership position, although it reported a ?514.9 billion loss after tax for the nine months ending September 2024, partly due to compliance with NIN-SIM linkage regulations .?

Internet and Broadband Penetration

Internet usage in Nigeria continues to grow, with 142.2 million internet subscribers as of January 2025. Of these, 141.7 million access the internet via mobile networks, highlighting the critical role of mobile connectivity in bridging the digital divide. Fixed wired internet accounts for 14,053 subscriptions, while ISPs and VoIP services contribute 285,702 and 206,067 subscriptions, respectively .?

Technology Adoption

The distribution of mobile network technologies among subscribers is as follows:?

  • 2G: 41.63%
  • 3G: 8.60%
  • 4G: 47.23%
  • 5G: 2.54%?

The dominance of 4G indicates widespread adoption, while 5G, introduced through spectrum auctions in 2021, is gradually gaining traction, with MTN and Mafab Communications launching commercial 5G services in major cities

Economic Impact and Future Outlook

The telecommunications sector significantly contributes to Nigeria's economy, accounting for nearly 15% of the nation's GDP in the fourth quarter of 2025. The sector supports various industries, including e-commerce, fintech, and digital entertainment, and generates employment through network operations and infrastructure development.

Looking ahead, the National Broadband Plan aims to achieve 70% broadband penetration by the end of 2025. Achieving this goal will require substantial investments in fibre-optic and satellite technologies. The expansion of 5G networks is expected to power advancements in IoT, smart cities, and industrial automation. However, challenges such as power infrastructure, cost reduction, and regulatory streamlining need to be addressed to sustain growth .

If you would like a visual breakdown of these statistics or further details on specific aspects of Nigeria's telecommunications landscape, feel free to ask.

 

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