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Nigeria telecommunications and data growth

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2026-08-27 05:54 UTC → 2026-09-01 14:53 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Nigeria’s telecommunications sector is experiencing rapid growth in both connectivity and data usage. In May 2026, the country’s total internet subscriber count rose to 157 million, driven largely by additions from Globacom and Airtel Nigeria. During this period, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) introduced a Cyber Resilience Framework, mandating that telecom operators allocate specific budgets and governance structures for cybersecurity to protect infrastructure and customer data. By the first half of 2026, data consumption reached a record 8.51 million terabytes. This surge has shifted the revenue models for major providers, with MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria seeing data services overtake voice as primary revenue drivers. To accommodate this demand, fiber optic (FTTX) adoption increased by 29 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, and the federal government announced plans to deploy 90,000 km of fiber starting in October. By June 2026, active mobile subscriptions rose to 192.23 million, bringing the country’s teledensity to 88.67 per cent. MTN Nigeria maintained market leadership with a 51.38 per cent share, followed by Airtel Nigeria at 34.44 per cent and Globacom at 12.34 per cent. Broadband subscriptions also increased to 123.11 million, representing a penetration rate of 56.79 per cent, even as total internet subscriptions saw a slight decline to 156.86 million during the same period.

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