According to the most recent industry data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria's telecoms industry continued to rise into the third quarter of 2025, with active voice subscriptions rising to 173.54 million in September from 171.57 million in August. The survey also revealed that broadband penetration increased to 49.34%, representing 106.97 million high-speed internet connections, putting the country closer to meeting the National Broadband Plan's 70% broadband target for 2020-2025.
Similarly, internet subscribers on GSM networks increased to 140.36 million, while overall teledensity reached 80.05 percent, indicating consistent growth across major mobile operators' networks.
The new data were released as the federal government increased efforts to develop digital infrastructure nationwide.
Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, has reaffirmed that the current administration is committed to increasing connectivity and digital inclusion throughout the country.
He said that the government planned to lay 90,000 kilometers of fiber-optic cable across the country, financed by a $500 million World Bank loan, the largest of its kind in the bank's portfolio.
Tijani stated, "The President has decided that as a nation, we will invest in 90,000 kilometers of fiber optic network across the country." Every area of our country will be wired with fiber optic lines.
He also announced plans to train 5,000 young Nigerians in fibre technology, splicing, and deployment in partnership with local manufacturers like Coleman Wires and Cables, which just opened West Africa's largest fibre optic cable plant.
“This will begin in about two to three months and will strengthen our broadband ecosystem, while creating skilled jobs for Nigerians,” the minister added.
According to NCC data, MTN Nigeria kept market leadership with 90.33 million users, accounting for 52.12% of the market share.
Airtel followed with 58.47 million customers (33.74%), and Globacom had 21.39 million (12.34%). T2 (previously 9mobile) served 3.11 million active lines, or 1.8% of the market, up from the previous month.
The GSM segment controls more than 99 percent of total mobile subscribers in Nigeria, demonstrating the importance of mobile connections in the country's communications environment.
According to the NCC data, broadband penetration reached a record high of 49.34%, up from 48.81% in August.
While 4G technology remained dominant with a 51.6% market share, 5G adoption increased to 3.4%, demonstrating incremental growth since its commercial launch in 2022.
Data use, however, fell slightly to 1.15 million terabytes in September from 1.152 million terabytes the previous month, despite steady growth in internet subscribers.
Despite a rebasing of national accounts earlier this year, Nigeria's telecom sector remains one of the most important contributors to the economy, accounting for 9.2% of GDP in Q2 2025, up from 8.5 in Q1.
Analysts attribute the steady performance to increased demand for digital services, mobile penetration, and operators' ongoing expenditures in network infrastructure.
