Nigerians are consuming more data than ever before. According to the latest report by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), national data usage reached a record 1.04 million terabytes in May 2025, even as the number of internet users declined slightly. This milestone reflects the country’s increasing reliance on digital platforms and services for work, entertainment, and everyday life.
What’s Fueling the Surge in Data Usage?
Several underlying trends are driving Nigeria’s rising data consumption:
- Smartphone Penetration: More Nigerians are accessing the internet through smartphones, pushing daily data usage higher across all demographics.
- Digital Services Growth: Streaming, social media, online gaming, and mobile banking continue to fuel demand for high-speed connectivity.
- Improved Network Infrastructure: Expanding 4G and 5G coverage has made faster internet more accessible, encouraging broader and deeper digital engagement.
Drop in Internet Subscriptions
Despite the surge in usage, active internet subscriptions dropped slightly in May—from 141.9 million in April to 141.5 million. MTN and 9mobile experienced subscriber losses of 258,313 and 291,214 respectively, while Airtel gained 342,597 users, bringing its total to 58.9 million.
Market Share and Teledensity Impact
This shift also affected teledensity, which measures the number of active telephone connections per 100 residents. It fell marginally from 79.78% in April to 79.65% in May.
As of May 2025:
- MTN leads with 52.33% market share,
- Airtel follows with 34.17%,
- Globacom holds 11.96%, and
- 9mobile accounts for 1.55%.
Tariff Hike and Its Consequences
The decline in subscriptions coincides with a 50% tariff increase introduced by telecom operators in January 2025. Prices rose from ₦6.40 to ₦9.60 per minute for voice calls, ₦4 to ₦6 for SMS, and ₦287.50 to ₦431.25 per GB of data.
Nevertheless, data consumption still rose 30.9% year-on-year, with average monthly usage reaching 9.86GB per user.
A Sector in Flux
These trends paint a complex picture of Nigeria’s telecom landscape. While rising costs may be trimming subscriber numbers, they’re not slowing down the country’s appetite for data. The challenge ahead lies in balancing affordability with profitability.
What Lies Ahead
Nigeria’s digital economy continues to gain ground. With further smartphone adoption, growing demand for digital services, and deeper 4G/5G rollout, data usage is poised to keep climbing. How telecom operators respond—through pricing, service quality, and innovation—will shape the future of connectivity in the country.
