Nigeria’s active telecommunications subscriptions surpassed 200 million for the first time since the mass disconnection of unregistered lines during the National Identification Number (NIN)-SIM enforcement campaign in 2024. The latest data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) shows the total reaching 200.34 million in September 2026, up from 182.23 million in January—a 9.94% increase over nine months. The rebound reflects a broader recovery in the sector after the 2024 NIN-SIM linkage exercise, which temporarily reduced active connections by forcing operators to deactivate unregistered SIM cards.
Among network technologies, 4G remains dominant, accounting for 54.37% of connections in September, up slightly from 53.41% in January. 5G adoption grew more sharply, from 3.94% to 5.05%, while 3G and 2G shares declined to 4.16% and 36.42%, respectively. Market share among providers remains uneven. MTN Nigeria leads with 104.65 million subscriptions (52.30%), followed by Airtel Nigeria with 68.04 million (34%). Globacom holds 23.80 million (11.89%), while T2 (formerly 9mobile) has 3.61 million (1.81%).
Together, MTN and Airtel control 86% of the market, reinforcing their dominance. Beyond mobile, Nigeria’s broadband market also expanded. Active broadband subscriptions climbed to 128.02 million in September from 115.04 million in January, an 11.28% increase. Broadband penetration reached 59.05%, while internet subscriptions grew to 160.91 million, up 6.17% since January. However, data usage dipped 1.39% month-over-month in September, though it remained 25% higher than January levels. Fixed broadband infrastructure saw strong growth.
Fibre-to-the-x (FTTX) connections rose to 401,666 in Q3 2026 from 319,735 in Q2, a 25.63% quarterly jump. The expansion targets rising demand for faster, more reliable internet services. The data highlights Nigeria’s telecom sector’s resilience post-NIN-SIM disruptions. While challenges persist, the recovery shows the sector’s economic role. Operators are scaling 5G and fixed broadband, though adoption varies across regions. The 200 million milestone signals progress, but sustained growth hinges on infrastructure investment and affordability.
Monthly Data Usage Trends and Sector-Wide Growth
Internet data consumption in Nigeria dropped in September, falling to 1.73 million terabytes from 1.76 million terabytes in August. This marked a 1.39% month-over-month decrease, though usage remained significantly higher than the 1.39 million terabytes recorded at the start of the year. The decline did not reverse overall growth trends, as September’s figures still reflected a 25% increase compared to January. Meanwhile, the telecom sector saw broader expansion, with active phone subscriptions exceeding 200 million, broadband connections surpassing 128 million, and continued growth in fiber-based services.
