The Nigerian telecommunications industry is undergoing a period of transformation, according to the latest performance data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission NCC for July 2025. The report captures a dual reality-while the overall number of telecom subscribers is declining, data consumption continues to surge to record levels. This trend reflects the combined effect of regulatory clean-up measures and the growing dependence of Nigerians on mobile internet services for daily activities.
In July, active telecom subscriptions in the country dropped to 169.3 million, representing a decline of more than 2.4 million users compared to the previous month. As a result, Nigeria's teledensity-the measure of active phone connections per 100 inhabitants-fell to 78.11. The NCC attributed the drop largely to the continued deactivation of SIM cards not linked to verifiable National Identification Numbers NINs. This regulatory exercise, designed to enhance security and improve the accuracy of industry data, has seen millions of inactive or unregistered lines removed from the system.
The market landscape remains highly concentrated. MTN Nigeria continues to dominate with 89.1 million subscribers, giving it the largest share of the sector. Airtel follows with 56.5 million users, while Globacom accounts for 20.7 million. The most notable change comes from 9mobile, which managed to add customers for the first time in nearly two years. The operator's subscriber base rose to 2.7 million, signaling a potential recovery after prolonged struggles in a highly competitive market.
