In a significant turning point for Nigeria’s largest telecom operator, MTN Nigeria has reported that data revenue outpaced voice income for the first time in its history, marking a significant shift in consumer behavior and the structure of telecom revenue in the country.

According to the company’s unaudited financial results for the first quarter of 2025, MTN earned N529.4 billion from data services, representing a 51.5 percent year-on-year increase compared to N349.5 billion recorded in Q1 2024. Voice revenue, which traditionally held the lion’s share of earnings, stood at N407.4 billion, now clearly trailing behind.

This development comes as the telco’s total service revenue hit N1.05 trillion, reflecting a 40.5 percent growth from the same quarter last year. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, data earnings rose by 17 percent, while voice revenue climbed by 15.5 percent, reinforcing the momentum behind Nigeria’s data-driven telecom market.

While MTN attributes the growth in data revenue to factors such as network investments, rising smartphone penetration, and increased average usage per subscriber — now at 12.8GB per user — some analysts are pointing to a more immediate trigger: the recent approval of data and voice tariff hikes by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Tariff Adjustment Driving Behavioral Shift

In March 2025, mobile operators implemented a modest increase in data and voice tariffs following approval by the NCC, citing operational cost pressures driven by inflation, currency devaluation, and persistent energy challenges. The price hike is believed to have forced many subscribers to rethink how they communicate and consume services.

Although data prices have also risen, voice call charges have increased proportionately, leading many users to pivot to more cost-effective, internet-based alternatives such as WhatsApp, for voice communication. This shift is believed to have been reflected in MTN’s Q1 results, which show data traffic increasing by 46.4 percent and smartphone penetration rising to 60.7 percent, following the addition of approximately four million new smartphones to the network.

Industry analysts believe that many Nigerians are now relying more heavily on data bundles to access multiple services rather than spending on traditional voice airtime — a trend that is unlikely to reverse anytime soon.

Continued Momentum Expected in Q2

With the Q2 period already underway, analysts predict that MTN’s data revenue will continue to rise, as the full effect of the tariff hike continues to shape user behavior. The growing entry-level smartphones, alongside MTN’s investments in network expansion, especially in its 4G and 5G infrastructure, are expected to sustain — if not accelerate — this trajectory.

MTN’s 4G coverage expanded to 82.7 percent of the population in Q1 2025, while 5G coverage held at 12.7 percent, with the company prioritizing capacity enhancements over fresh rollouts. Its efforts to dominate the home broadband space also continued, with 233,000 new subscribers added during the quarter, bringing its total broadband user base to 3.5 million. Much of this growth was driven by the company’s 5G fixed wireless access and fiber-to-the-home services.

“These efforts align with our commitment to expanding broadband access and accelerating digital inclusion across Nigeria,” the company said.

MTN’s strong Q1 performance signals a broader transition that may reshape how telecoms operate and price their services in Nigeria. As voice revenue stagnates, data is becoming the new battleground, not just for earnings, but also for user loyalty and market share.

President Donald Trump on Sunday, announced a slap of a 100% tariff on all foreign-made films imported into the United States, marking a dramatic escalation in his ongoing trade crusade — this time extending deep into the cultural and entertainment spheres.

While his administration has long railed against foreign trade practices, the move now seeks to bring the global film industry under the same protectionist lens, with implications likely to reverberate through Hollywood more than anywhere else.

“The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death. Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States,” Trump declared on Truth Social. “Therefore, I am authorizing the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands. WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!”

Although the post did not single out any particular country, trade observers and studio executives see the measure as a direct response to China’s tightening control over its domestic entertainment market. In recent years, Beijing has implemented its own form of protectionism against Hollywood, drastically limiting the number of American films allowed into its theaters and giving preferential treatment to homegrown productions. The move was aimed at promoting local cinema and insulating cultural narratives from outside influence — a policy that, by design, undermined U.S. studios’ long-standing dominance.

Hollywood, which once reigned as a global cinematic powerhouse, has watched its influence in China shrink. Between 2011 and 2019, China’s box office revenues skyrocketed from under $1 billion to over $9 billion, with American blockbusters like Fast & Furious and Avengers: Endgame generating jaw-dropping returns. The latter film alone grossed $632 million in China — more than its earnings in most other markets combined. Despite only pocketing about 25% of Chinese box office receipts, studios saw the volume as too lucrative to ignore.

But that era of dominance has faded. Today, Chinese films dominate the local market, accounting for around 80% of total box office earnings — a sharp increase from the 60% share held before the COVID-19 pandemic. The shift is more than economic; it signals a cultural recalibration. Local audiences, once captivated by the scale and spectacle of Hollywood fare, are now flocking to homegrown stories that reflect Chinese experiences and values. American films, once event staples in Chinese theaters, are now often delayed, censored, or excluded altogether.

Trump’s tariff appears crafted not only as retaliation but also as a preemptive move to reposition American filmmaking in a world where its cultural exports are no longer guaranteed dominance.

“Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated,” he wrote. “This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat.”

The tariff, if implemented, will have sweeping consequences. While China is the assumed primary target, the measure will apply globally — impacting countries like India and Nigeria, whose burgeoning film industries trail Hollywood in scale but are gaining international attention. Nollywood, for instance, has become a force in African and diaspora markets, while India’s Bollywood continues to churn out hundreds of films annually with a significant global footprint.

Still, Hollywood itself is expected to feel the sharpest sting. For decades, major studios have relied on foreign locations for filming and post-production, drawn by tax incentives and lower labor costs in cities like Toronto, London, Budapest, and Johannesburg. These films, although American in origin and direction, would fall under the new tariff umbrella if produced outside U.S. borders — potentially adding significant costs to the final product.

The entertainment industry, still recovering from a post-pandemic slump, has already seen movie ticket sales in the U.S. fall far below their 2018 peak of nearly $12 billion. In 2020, revenue plummeted to just over $2 billion due to theater closures. Although box office numbers have improved since, they remain well below pre-COVID levels, while fewer major releases and the dominance of streaming continue to alter viewer behavior.

Studios, which increasingly depend on streaming platforms to recoup investment, may struggle to absorb new tariff-related costs. Despite Disney+ and Max recently posting their first profits, most streaming networks, with the exception of Netflix — continue to operate at a loss.

Trade experts also note the legal ambiguity of Trump’s proposal. Because films are considered intellectual property rather than physical goods, current U.S. trade laws don’t easily accommodate tariffs on them. Services like film are typically governed under separate international trade frameworks, meaning any attempt to impose import duties could provoke disputes or retaliation under World Trade Organization rules.

Apple is planning a significant shift in its iPhone release strategy by splitting the launch of the iPhone 18 series across two periods in 2026, The Information reported, citing sources within the company’s supply chain.

The high-end iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to debut in the fall of 2026, while the standard iPhone 18 and an updated iPhone 16e model are slated for release in spring 2027.

The staggered launch, a departure from Apple’s traditional September rollout, is reportedly aimed at easing production timelines, reducing logistical bottlenecks, and creating more marketing headroom for each tier of the product line. It comes amid broader strategic shifts within Apple’s global operations, including efforts to diversify manufacturing and reduce dependency on China, especially as the company navigates heightened U.S.-China trade tensions under President Donald Trump’s revived tariff policies.

In the same report, The Information revealed that Apple is developing a new foldable iPhone, scheduled for launch in fall 2026. Though the company has not publicly confirmed these plans, the foldable is expected to resemble a book-style design, with an internal display measuring nearly 8 inches when unfolded and around 5.7 inches when closed. The Verge also noted the device could measure as little as 4.5 to 4.8mm in thickness when open and may incorporate Face ID technology.

Apple’s entry into the foldable smartphone market comes as rivals gain momentum in the segment. In February, Huawei unveiled the Mate X3 Tri-Fold in Kuala Lumpur—hailed as the world’s first tri-foldable smartphone. The device folds into three sections, allowing users to switch between smartphone, tablet, and compact modes seamlessly.

Industry analysts have described Huawei’s tri-fold as a “symbolic victory” in the ongoing tech standoff between the U.S. and China. Despite being hit hard by U.S. sanctions and export restrictions in recent years, Huawei’s continued hardware innovation underpins the Chinese company’s resilience and its intent to lead in next-generation device design.

Apple’s upcoming foldable, then, appears not just as a product evolution but also as a calculated response to emerging competition and geopolitical pressures. With Huawei pushing technological boundaries despite U.S. headwinds, Apple is now under renewed pressure to assert its dominance in premium innovation while shielding its operations from the fallout of escalating trade hostilities.

In an attempt to mitigate these risks, Apple is also testing production of the cheaper iPhone 18 models in India, according to The Information. This move aligns with Apple’s ongoing efforts to reduce reliance on Chinese manufacturing, which has increasingly become a vulnerability amid tightening U.S. tariffs.

The report stated: “Apple would also test making the cheaper iPhone 18 models in India to reduce its reliance on China for manufacturing, as Trump’s tariffs impact its margins.”

Apple has already been increasing its production footprint in India over the past three years, with suppliers like Foxconn and Pegatron ramping up operations in key locations such as Tamil Nadu. India has also emerged as a key market for Apple’s growth, and the shift in production may serve dual purposes—strengthening local ties and insulating the company from further disruptions tied to U.S.-China policy volatility.

Bloomberg previously reported that Apple plans to launch a slimmer iPhone this year, rumored to be named the “iPhone 17 Air.” According to The Information, a successor to that model is also planned for 2026, adding to the company’s broadened iPhone roadmap.

While Apple has not commented publicly on these reports, the series of strategic adjustments underline a company under pressure to adapt. From diversifying its supply chain and expanding its product lineup to innovating in hardware form factors, the Cupertino giant is positioning itself to weather ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainty—while seeking new markets and consumers through bold design and timing shifts.