MTN Nigeria becomes first telco to cross 100 million subscribers
The addition of more than 2.2 million subscribers was MTN’s strongest monthly growth so far this year and its biggest since November 2024.
MTN Nigeria has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing 100 million subscribers, becoming the first telecommunications company in the country to reach this number. The operator's subscriber base grew to 100.86 million as of July, up from 98.64 million in June, according to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
This marks the strongest monthly growth of the year, with more than 2.2 million new subscribers added. MTN's 51.76% market share in Nigeria's mobile market positions it as a major player, poised to reshape competition in the country's digital landscape. Osita Odafi, a telecom expert, highlighted that this milestone is the first for a Nigerian telco and represents nearly one-third of MTN's global subscriber base.
The company's subscriber growth has been steady, adding more than 6.6 million lines in the first seven months of 2026 alone. MTN's surge in subscribers appears to be driven by a combination of new customer acquisition, reactivation of lines, migration from competing networks, and expanded coverage. However, this rapid growth may strain network capacity, especially in densely populated areas.
MTN has invested ₦620.5 billion ($449.6 million) in network infrastructure in the first half of 2026 to support continued expansion.
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