Nigeria’s Digital Paradox: Telco Revenues Soar as 1 Million Users Go Offline
Nigeria’s technology sector is facing a significant paradox. While the nation’s major telecommunications companies report record-breaking revenue from data services, the country’s overall internet user base is shrinking. This troubling trend highlights a growing digital divide, where access to the internet is becoming a luxury for many. In the first half of 2025 alone, Nigeria lost over one million active internet subscribers, a clear signal that economic headwinds are stalling digital progress.
The High Cost of Connectivity
Official data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) paints a stark picture of the situation. Total internet subscriptions in the country fell from 141.6 million in January 2025 to 140.6 million by the end of June. This decline is largely attributed to the rising cost of smartphones, which has become a primary barrier to entry for new users. Compounded by broader economic pressures and persistent regulatory bottlenecks, mobile network operators are finding it increasingly difficult to expand their subscriber base. Although existing customers are consuming more data than ever, the inability to onboard new users threatens the sector’s long-term growth and Nigeria’s digital inclusion ambitions.
Even as the total user count falls, the market remains dominated by a few key players. As of June 2025, MTN Nigeria leads the sector with 76.5 million internet subscribers. It is followed by Airtel with 49.4 million users, Globacom with 13.7 million, and 9mobile with 1.08 million. While these operators benefit from increased data spending by their current subscribers, the shrinking pool of total users underscores a critical challenge: without addressing device affordability, Nigeria’s journey toward a fully connected digital economy may be severely hampered.
Keywords
Related Keywords: Nigeria internet users decline, internet subscribers drop Nigeria, Nigerian telecom industry statistics, NCC internet subscriber data, reasons for internet user drop Nigeria, NINSIM linkage impact, broadband penetration Nigeria, Nigeria mobile data subscribers
