Nigeria Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Last updated: 4 May 2025 Update History

Report Status: Current

Report Pages: 282

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Nigeria’s telecom regulator approves tariff hike for telcos

In recent years Nigeria’s telecom sector has benefitted from a range of regulatory measures aimed at improving competition and developing infrastructure. The government’s aim to increase broadband penetration to 70% by the end of 2025 as part of a national broadband plan remains ambitious, given that the penetration rate was only 45% as of the beginning of 2025. Broadband services are predominantly delivered via mobile networks, but while there is some investment in fibre infrastructure one promising platform is satellite connectivity. SpaceX launched commercial services in February 2023, providing national coverage with download speeds vastly superior to the national average. Other satellite options also exist, including services provided by the ISP Tizeti based on Eutelsat’s Ka-band connectivity (Konnect), and the NigComSat 2 satellite which delivers 5G backhaul services for MNOs.

The government’s 5G policy has been supported by the award of spectrum. Airtel Nigeria and MTN Nigeria have launched commercial services, though with limited reach, while Mafab Communications expected to follow suit by mid-2025. The regulator estimated that there were some 4.39 5G subscribers as of January 2025, giving the technology a 2.6% share of the mobile subscriber base.

The sector continues to face economic challenges, notably from unfavourable foreign exchange conditions which have made the country less attractive to foreign investors, and by the plethora of taxes for telecom services. The regulator has been pressed to abolish some taxes, including a 5% levy on mobile services, and in January 2025 it allowed telcos to increase tariffs by up to 50%. This enabled the telcos to address the sharp decline in revenue seen since 2022, which had jeopardised their ability to invest in network upgrades and expansion projects.

Key developments:

Telecom regulator approves mobile tariff adjustments in response to higher operating costs for the MNOs.
MTN Group considers a second IPO for MTN Nigeria following promising revenue gains in Q1 2025.
Nigeria Universal Communication Access Project is launched, aimed at connecting over 21 million people who lack access to basic mobile telecom services.
Government approves a $2 billion investment to deploy 90,000km of fibre cabling nationwide to increase internet service availability.
MTN Group and Airtel sign an agreement to share telecom network infrastructure in Nigeria.
Telecom regulator to open 6GHz band for Wi-Fi services.
Report update includes the regulator’s market data to January 2025, operator data to Q1 2025, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Nigerian Telecommunications (ntel, Nitel, Pentascope, Transcorp, M-Tel), Africa Mobile Networks, Globacom (Glo Mobile), VGC Communications (MTN Nigeria), Nepskom Communications, MTS First Wireless, Suburban Telecom, Backbone Connectivity Network (BCN), Traffic Network Services, Fibre Tech West Africa, Phase3 Telecom, Alheri Engineering, Mobitel Nigeria, Prestel (O-Mobile), Galaxy Backbone, 21st Century Technologies, Main One (Mainstreet Technologies), Brymedia, NigComSat, O3b Networks, WASACE, Linkserve, Pinet Informatics, Odu’a Telecom, Swift Networks, Startech Connection, Netcom Africa, MWEB Nigeria, Accelon (Internet Solutions), Polestar, Naija Wi-Fi, Suburban Telecom, Zinox, , Layer3, Airtel Nigeria (formerly Zain, Celtel), 9Mobile (Etisalat Nigeria, EMTS, Mubadala), Visafone, Starcomms (Capcom), Multi-Links, Reliance, Econet Wireless, Vodacom.

Key statistics
Regional Africa Market Comparison

Market characteristics
Market Leaders
Market Challengers
Market Emergents
TMI vs GDP
Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration

Country overview
Telecommunications market
Regulatory environment

Regulatory authority
Fixed-line developments

National Telecommunications Policy (NTP)
Nigerian Communications Act
West African common regulatory framework
Interconnection
Infrastructure sharing
Telecom taxes
Universal service
National Rural Telephony Program (NRTP)
National Information Technology Development (NITD) Fund
Backbone Transmission Infrastructure Project (BTRAIN)
Telecom sector liberalisation
Globacom’s SNO licence
Regional fixed-wireless access (FWA) licences
International gateway licences
Unified licensing regime
Privatisation of Nitel

Mobile network developments

GSM licence terms
Spectrum
Mobile Termination Rate (MTR)
Mobile tariffs
Unified licensing regime
Universal service
Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
Quality of Service
SIM card registration
Network sharing

Mobile market

Market analysis
Mobile statistics

Mobile voice

Mobile infrastructure

International gateways
National mobile infrastructure plan
Tower infrastructure
Analogue networks
Digital networks
Other infrastructure developments
Mobile data
Mobile broadband

Major mobile operators

MTN Nigeria
Airtel Nigeria
Globacom
9Mobile (Etisalat Nigeria, EMTS, Mubadala)
M-Tel

Major CDMA mobile operators

Multi-Links Telkom
Reliance Telecommunications (Reltel, Zoom)
Starcomms (Capcom)
InterC Network (Intercellular Nigeria)
Visafone
MVNOs

Mobile content and applications

Mobile money transfer, m-banking
Service providers
Payment Service Banks
M-health

Fixed-line broadband market

Introduction and statistical overview

Market analysis
Internet Exchange Points (IXP)
National Broadband Plan
Broadband statistics

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks

Providers

Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
Other fixed broadband services

Broadband over Powerlines (BPL)
Fixed wireless

Fixed network operators

Nigerian Telecommunications (Nitel)

National backbone network
Wireless Local Loop (WLL)

Globacom

Network infrastructure
Fibre backbone network
International presence
Services
International expansion

VGC Communications
National Long-Distance Operators (NLDO)
Mafab Communications
Fixed-wireless network operators

MTS First Wireless
Mobitel Nigeria
Prestel (O-Mobile)
Regional FWA operators

Telecommunications infrastructure

Overview of the national telecom network
Backbone networks

National Information Infrastructure Backbone (NIIB)
NIPTI
Suburban Telecom
Phase3 Telecom
Backbone Connectivity Network (BCN)
Private networks

International terrestrial infrastructure

The Central African Backbone (CAB)
Nigeria – Niger link
Trans-Saharan Backbone
NNPC network

International submarine infrastructure

SAT-3/WASC
Glo-1
MainOne
WACS
ACE
WASACE
Equiano
Djoliba
2Africa submarine cable

Satellite

Rascom
NigeriaSat-1
NigComSat
O3b Networks
Starlink

Data centres

Appendix – Historic data
Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities – Nigeria – 2025 (e)
Table 2 – Development of telecom revenue by sector (NGN billion) – 2017 – 2022
Table 3 – Change in telecom sector contribution to GDP – 2012 – 2024
Table 4 – Change in the number of outgoing mobile number portings – 2013 – 2025
Table 5 – Development of mobile sector financial data (NGN billion) – 2017 – 2022
Table 6 – Growth in the number of active mobile subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 7 – Change in the number of mobile subscribers by operator (million) – 2014 – 2025
Table 8 – Change in the market share of mobile subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2025
Table 9 – Change in the number of prepaid mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2022
Table 10 – Change in the market share of mobile subscribers by platform – 2023 - 2025
Table 11 – Increase in data traffic – 2018 – 2025
Table 12 – Growth in SMS traffic – 2012 – 2022
Table 13 – Change in the number of mobile internet subscribers by operator (million) – 2012 – 2025
Table 14 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2027
Table 15 – Change in the number of MTN Nigeria’s mobile sites by technology – 2016 – 2024
Table 16 – Change in the number of MTN Nigeria’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2025
Table 17 – Change in MTN Nigeria’s financial data (ZAR million) – 2012 – 2024
Table 18 – Development of MTN Nigeria revenue by type (ZAR million) – 2012 – 2024
Table 19 – Development of MTN Nigeria service revenue by type (ZAR million) – 2023 – 2024
Table 20 – Development of MTN Nigeria’s financial data (NGN billion) – 2017 – 2025
Table 21 – Development of MTN Nigeria’s financial data by type (NGN million) – 2021 – 2025
Table 22 – Change in MTN Nigeria’s mobile ARPU – 2012 – 2024
Table 23 – Change in MTN Nigeria’s capex – 2015 – 2024
Table 24 – Change in MTN Nigeria’s customer voice and data traffic – 2015 – 2024
Table 25 – Growth in the number of Airtel Nigeria’s mobile subscribers (company data) – 2017 – 2024
Table 26 – Growth in the number of Airtel Nigeria’s mobile subscribers (regulator data) – 2012 – 2025
Table 27 – Growth in the number of Airtel Nigeria’s base stations – 2018 – 2024
Table 28 – Development of Airtel Nigeria’s financial data ($ million) – 2018 – 2024
Table 29 – Development of Airtel Nigeria’s revenue by type ($ million) – 2021 – 2025
Table 30 – Change in Airtel Nigeria’s quarterly churn – 2018 – 2024
Table 31 – Change in the number of Globacom’s mobile and mobile internet subscriber base (million) – 2012 – 2025
Table 32 – Development of Globacom’s financial data (NGN million) – 2017 – 2019
Table 33 – Change in the number of 9mobile’s mobile subscribers (million) – 2012 – 2024
Table 34 – Development of 9mobile’s financial data (NGN million) – 2017 – 2019
Table 35 – Decline in the number of Visafone’s mobile subscribers – 2013 – 2020
Table 36 – Change in the number of m-payment transactions and value – 2012 – 2019
Table 37 – Increase in the number of m-money inter-scheme transactions and value – 2017 – 2020
Table 38 – Change in the number of MTN’s m-money subscribers – 2018 – 2025
Table 39 – Fixed-line (wired) broadband subscribers – 2017 – 2025
Table 40 – Fixed-line (wired) broadband subscribers by operator – 2017 – 2025
Table 41 – Change in the market share of fixed-wired broadband subscribers by operator – 2017 – 2025
Table 42 – Increase in fibre broadband cabling – 2018 – 2022
Table 43 – Change in the number of fibre broadband connections – 2018 – 2022
Table 44 – Evolution in the number of satellite broadband subscribers – 2015 – 2025
Table 45 – Evolution of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2014 – 2027
Table 46 – Change in the number of fixed lines by operator – 2014 – 2025
Table 47 – Growth in the number of VoIP lines by operator – 2016 – 2025
Table 48 – Increase in international internet bandwidth (Mb/s) – 2012 – 2023
Table 49 – Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 1999 – 2011
Table 50 – Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 1998 – 2011
Table 51 – Historic - MTN Nigeria ARPU – 2002 – 2011
Table 52 – Historic - Internet users and penetration rate in Nigeria – 2000 – 2015
Table 53 – Historic - SMS traffic – 2006 – 2011
Table 54 – Historic - International internet bandwidth – 2001 – 2011
Table 55 – Historic - CDMA subscribers by operator – 2011 – 2019

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Africa Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Leaders
Chart 2 – Africa – Market Leaders global ranking
Chart 3 – Africa Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Challengers
Chart 4 – Africa – Market Challengers global ranking
Chart 5 – Africa Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Emergents
Chart 6 – Africa – Market Emergents global ranking
Chart 7 – Africa – Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
Chart 8 – Africa – Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 9 – Africa – Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 10 – Development of telecom revenue by sector – 2017 – 2022
Chart 11 – Change in telecom sector contribution to GDP – 2012 – 2024
Chart 12 – Change in the number of outgoing mobile number portings – 2013 – 2025
Chart 13 – Development of mobile sector financial data – 2017 – 2022
Chart 14 – Growth in the number of active mobile subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 15 – Change in the number of mobile subscribers – 2014 – 2025
Chart 16 – Change in the market share of mobile subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2025
Chart 17 – Change in the number of prepaid mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2022
Chart 18 – Growth in SMS traffic – 2012 – 2022
Chart 19 – Change in the number of mobile internet subscribers by operator – 2015 – 2025
Chart 20 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2027
Chart 21 – Change in the number of MTN Nigeria’s mobile sites by technology – 2016 – 2024
Chart 22 – Change in the number of MTN Nigeria’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2025
Chart 23 – Change in MTN Nigeria’s financial data – 2012 – 2024
Chart 24 – Change in MTN Nigeria’s voice and data revenue – 2012 – 2024
Chart 25 – Development of MTN Nigeria’s financial data (NGN) – 2017 – 2025
Chart 26 – Development of MTN Nigeria’s financial data by type (NGN) – 2021 – 2025
Chart 27 – Change in MTN Nigeria’s mobile ARPU – 2012 – 2024
Chart 28 – Change in MTN Nigeria’s capex – 2015 – 2024
Chart 29 – Change in MTN Nigeria’s customer voice and data traffic – 2015 – 2024
Chart 30 – Growth in the number of Airtel Nigeria’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2025
Chart 31 – Growth in the number of Airtel Nigeria’s base stations – 2018 – 2024
Chart 32 – Development of Airtel Nigeria’s financial data – 2018 – 2025
Chart 33 – Development of Airtel Nigeria’s revenue by type ($ million) – 2021 – 2025
Chart 34 – Growth in the number of Globacom’s mobile and mobile internet subscriber base – 2012 – 2025
Chart 35 – Change in the number of 9mobile’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2024
Chart 36 – Change in the number of m-payment transactions and value – 2012 – 2019
Chart 37 – Increase in the number of m-money inter-scheme transactions and value – 2017 – 2020
Chart 38 – Total fixed-line (wired) broadband subscribers – 2017 – 2025
Chart 39 – Fixed-line (wired) broadband subscribers by operator – 2017 – 2025
Chart 40 – Change in the market share of fixed-wired broadband subscribers by operator – 2017 – 2025
Chart 41 – Evolution of fixed lines in service – 2012 – 2027
Chart 42 – Change in the number of fixed lines by operator – 2014 – 2025
Chart 43 – Growth in the number of VoIP lines by operator – 2016 – 2025
Chart 44 – Increase in international internet bandwidth – 2012 – 2023

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Map of Telecom Maturity Index global ranking among countries in Africa
Exhibit 2 – Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 3 – Africa – Market Leaders and market developments
Exhibit 4 – Africa – Market Challengers and market developments
Exhibit 5 – Africa – Market Emergents and market developments
Exhibit 6 – Regional FWA licensees
Exhibit 7 – Financial bids for Nitel/M-Tel, first and second round ($ million) – 2010
Exhibit 8 – MVNO licensees by type - 2023
Exhibit 9 – Regional FWA licensees in Nigeria
Exhibit 10 – 2Africa landing stations

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Nigeria Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

Nigeria’s telecom regulator approves tariff hike for telcos

Key developments:

Companies mentioned in this report:

Key statistics

Regional Africa Market Comparison

Country overview

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Fixed network operators

Telecommunications infrastructure

Appendix – Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

Purchase this Report

Share this Report

TMT Intelligence

A platform to scale your intelligence tasks

Research Methodology

Hot Topics

News & Views