Nigerian telecommunications subscribers consumed about 1.50 million terabytes of data in May 2026, the highest monthly level reported in the latest Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) data, as demand for mobile internet services continued to expand.
Data consumption rose from about 1.41 million terabytes in April, extending the strong growth recorded since the beginning of the year. NCC figures show that subscribers consumed more than 4.06 million terabytes during the first quarter, with monthly usage reaching 1.42 million terabytes in March.
The increase has coincided with continued expansion in Nigeria’s active mobile subscriber base. Active subscriptions rose to 189.68 million in May, from 188.01 million in April and 185.72 million in March, bringing the total number of active lines closer to the 190 million mark.
Teledensity, which measures active telecommunications lines relative to the population, also increased to 87.50% in May, from 86.73% in April.
Broadband adoption continued to improve during the period. Broadband subscriptions rose to 121.64 million, compared with 120.68 million a month earlier, taking broadband penetration to 56.11%.
The figures highlight the growing importance of data services in Nigeria’s telecommunications market, as consumers increasingly depend on mobile connectivity for social media, streaming, digital payments, communications and other online services.
The rising traffic is also increasing the pressure on operators to expand network capacity and invest in digital infrastructure. MTN Nigeria, for instance, reported that its capital investment exceeded ₦1 trillion in 2025, representing a 126.2% increase, as it continued expanding and upgrading its network infrastructure.
MTN has also expanded its digital infrastructure beyond traditional mobile networks. In July 2025, the company unveiled the first phase of its Dabengwa Data Centre in Lagos, a Tier III facility designed to provide additional cloud and data-processing capacity for Nigerian businesses.
The latest NCC figures underscore the rapid expansion of Nigeria’s digital economy. Annual data consumption reached 13.25 million terabytes in 2025, while monthly usage has risen substantially from levels recorded in previous years.
With active subscriptions approaching 190 million and broadband penetration above 56%, continued growth in data traffic is likely to remain a major consideration for telecommunications operators as they balance network investment, service quality and the economics of providing increasingly data-intensive services.
