Telecoms Subscriptions Hit 192M, Maintain Steady Growth in One Year

Nigeria's telecoms subscriptions have hit a record 192,232,120, maintaining steady growth over the past year, according to numbers released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Tele density reached 88.67 percent in June, up from 87.50 percent in May. The growth trajectory remained consistent in the last year. MTN led the market with 98,643,681 subscribers, capturing 51.38 percent of the market, followed by Airtel with 66,121,645 subscribers (34.44 percent).

Globacom held third place with 23,682,605 subscribers (12.34 percent), and T2 rounded out the top four with 3,538,021 subscribers (1.84 percent). By July 2025, subscriptions had grown to 169,328,686, with a teledensity of 78.11 percent. August saw another increase to 171,566,422 subscribers (79.14 percent teledensity). The trend continued, with telecoms subscriptions peaking at 192,232,120 in June 2026, accompanied by a teledensity of 88.67 percent.

Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) Gbenga Adebayo attributed the steady increase in subscriptions to stable regulatory policies from the NCC and a 50 percent tariff hike approved for telecom operators in January 2025. The hike allowed operators to cover operating costs and reinvest revenue into network expansion, boosting infrastructure and services across the sector.