Nigerian consumers spent an estimated N3.33 trillion on mobile internet services during the first quarter of 2026, underscoring the country’s growing reliance on digital connectivity despite persistent economic pressures.
Fresh industry data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) showed that mobile data consumption reached 4.06 million terabytes between January and March 2026. The regulator’s figures indicate that the average subscriber consumed approximately 27.9 gigabytes (GB) of data during the period, translating to an average expenditure of about N22,400 per user.
Monthly spending remained consistently high throughout the quarter, with subscribers spending N1.13 trillion in January, N1.03 trillion in February, and N1.14 trillion in March.
The latest figures represent a 40.5% increase from the N2.37 trillion spent in the corresponding period of 2025, highlighting the rapid expansion of Nigeria’s digital economy and the growing importance of internet services to households and businesses.
Industry experts attribute the surge primarily to rising demand for video streaming platforms, social media applications, cloud-based services, online education, and remote work solutions. Increased smartphone penetration and broader access to high-speed networks have also contributed significantly to higher data usage across the country.
The NCC noted that fourth-generation (4G) technology now accounts for 53.79% of active network connections, reflecting continued migration away from older technologies. Meanwhile, the expansion of fifth-generation (5G) infrastructure by telecom operators is accelerating internet speeds and enabling more data-intensive applications.
For telecom operators, the sustained increase in data consumption is strengthening a critical revenue stream at a time when traditional voice revenues are experiencing slower growth. Data services have increasingly become the primary driver of earnings for major mobile network providers as consumers spend more time online and businesses digitize operations.
However, analysts caution that affordability remains a key challenge. While demand for internet services continues to rise, elevated inflation, foreign exchange pressures, and higher operating costs could affect consumers’ ability to maintain current spending levels.
Nevertheless, the long-term outlook for Nigeria’s telecom sector remains positive. Continued investments in broadband infrastructure, expanding 5G coverage, and government efforts to deepen digital inclusion are expected to support further growth in data consumption over the coming years.
As Nigeria advances toward a more technology-driven economy, the latest NCC figures highlight the central role of mobile internet connectivity in driving commerce, communication, entertainment, and productivity across Africa’s most populous nation.
