Nigeria recorded a significant increase in internet usage at the end of the first quarter of the year, defying a sweeping 50% hike in telecom service charges that took effect in February.
The surge notably underlines the country’s growing reliance on mobile internet for daily communication, business, education, and entertainment.
According to the latest industry performance data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), mobile data usage surged by 11.5% in March 2025, reaching 995,876.10 terabytes, up from 893,054.80 terabytes in February.
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The NCC’s decision to approve the first major price adjustment in the telecom sector in over a decade, allowing operators to implement a 50% increase in the prices of voice, data, and SMS services, was expected to cause a slowdown in data usage. But March data tells a different story.
On January 20, 2025, the NCC gave mobile network operators the green light to increase charges, citing the sector’s sustained financial pressure from double-digit inflation, foreign exchange volatility, high energy costs, and operational expenses. The operators had long warned that continued price controls were unsustainable, and the regulator eventually yielded.
By February, operators had revised their pricing structures: 1GB of data, which previously averaged N287.50, rose officially to N431.25. However, actual market rates now reflect a higher average of N587.50 per GB, according to operators’ pricing on prepaid bundles. SMS costs increased from N4.00 to N6.00 per message.
Internet subscriptions also rose in March, further contradicting predictions of consumer cutbacks. The number of active internet subscriptions climbed to 141.5 million, up from 140.7 million in February, across Nigeria’s four major mobile network providers: MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile.
MTN remains the clear market leader with 75.62 million internet subscribers, while Airtel follows with 48.8 million. Globacom maintained 15.37 million, and 9mobile trailed with 1.75 million users.
The increase in subscriptions comes despite broader concerns about the cost of living crisis in the country, where rising fuel prices, electricity tariffs, and food inflation continue to squeeze household incomes.
But the growth in mobile connectivity, particularly in data services, suggests that internet access has become a non-negotiable utility for millions of Nigerians, rather than a discretionary service. The mobile phone, powered by internet access, now supports everything from remote work and online schooling to digital banking, streaming, e-commerce, and social media.
Voice and Data Subscriptions Expand
Beyond internet-specific metrics, total mobile subscriptions, which include both voice and data lines, also recorded growth. Between February and March, operators added 1.8 million new active lines, increasing the total from 170.6 million to 172.71 million.
This also contributed to a rise in Nigeria’s teledensity, which measures the number of telephone connections per 100 people. It grew to 79.67% in March, up from 78.83% in February, based on an estimated population of 216 million.
MTN Controls Over Half of the Market
In terms of market share, MTN Nigeria continues to dominate the telecom space with 90.5 million active lines, accounting for 52.48% of the country’s mobile users.
Airtel maintains the second-largest share with 58.3 million users or 33.78%. Globacom holds 12% of the market with 20.7 million lines, while 9mobile has just 2.9 million subscribers, representing 1.72% of the total market.
First Major Tariff Adjustment in Over 10 Years
Before the January 2025 approval, Nigeria’s telecom tariffs had remained relatively flat for more than a decade, even as operating conditions worsened. The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and other industry stakeholders had repeatedly petitioned the NCC to consider a pricing review.
Operators pointed to persistent inflation, difficulties accessing foreign exchange for equipment and software imports, rising diesel prices for powering base stations, and the costs of maintaining network infrastructure as justification for a hike.
After long resistance, the NCC acknowledged these challenges in January, approving what it described as a “moderate and necessary adjustment” to ensure continuity of service and encourage future investment in network expansion.
Industry Outlook: Resilience or Breaking Point?
While March figures suggest strong resilience among Nigerian telecom consumers, there are concerns that continued price increases, especially if inflation persists or subsidies are removed in other sectors, could eventually trigger a slowdown.
Some experts also caution that rural users and low-income groups may be disproportionately affected, potentially deepening the digital divide if affordability becomes a barrier to access.
However, the current trend shows that the demand for data, driven by Nigeria’s youthful, digital-savvy population, is outpacing economic pressure, at least in the short term.