Nigeria’s telecommunications industry continued to grow steadily in the final quarter of 2025, driven by increasing demand for mobile and internet services across the country.
New data from the Nigerian Communications Commission and the National Bureau of Statistics revealed that active voice subscriptions reached 179.6 million by the end of Q4 2025. This marks an 8.92% increase compared to the 164.9 million recorded during the same period in 2024.
On a quarter-by-quarter basis, the sector also showed steady progress, with voice subscriptions growing by 3.52%,highlighting consistent expansion in mobile connectivity.
Internet usage followed a similar upward trend. Active internet subscriptions rose to 148.2 million in Q4 2025, up from 139.3 million in Q4 2024. This represents a 6.38% year-on-year increase, while quarter-on-quarter growth stood at 5.12%. The figures reflect Nigeria’s ongoing shift toward digital services, including online communication, streaming, e-commerce, and remote work.
A closer look at the data shows clear regional differences in telecom usage across the country.
Lagos State remained the leading hub for telecommunications activity, recording the highest number of voice subscribers at **21.6 million**. Its strong infrastructure, large population, and status as Nigeria’s commercial center continue to drive high connectivity levels.
Following Lagos, Kano State ranked second with 11.3 million voice subscriptions, while Ogun State came third with 10.3 million subscribers.
At the other end of the scale, smaller states recorded significantly lower figures. Bayelsa State had the fewest voice users at 1.19 million, followed by Ebonyi State with 1.68 million and Ekiti State with 1.69 million.
The pattern for internet subscriptions closely mirrored that of voice services.
Lagos once again led with 18.6 million internet users, reinforcing its position as the country’s digital powerhouse. Kano followed with 9.17 million, while Ogun recorded 8.88 million users.
On the lower end, Bayelsa had just over 1 million internet subscribers, while Ebonyi and Ekiti recorded 1.35 million and 1.44 million** users respectively.
The continued rise in both voice and internet subscriptions shows that more Nigerians are relying on digital connectivity for daily activities. From business transactions to social interactions and education, telecom services are becoming increasingly essential.
However, the noticeable gap between high-performing states and those with lower numbers highlights ongoing challenges in infrastructure development and digital access. Expanding network coverage and improving service quality in underserved regions could help bridge this divide.
Overall, the telecom sector remains one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing industries, playing a key role in supporting economic growth and digital transformation.
