August 07, (THEWILL) — Active mobile subscriptions in Nigeria dropped to 171.73 million in June 2025, down from 172.67 million recorded in May, according to the latest industry data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission.
The figures represent a monthly decline of approximately 941,870 subscriptions, reflecting the ongoing impact of the Federal Government’s policy mandating that all SIM cards be linked to verified National Identification Numbers. The policy aims to improve digital identity management and curb insecurity.
The report also revealed a market dominated by two key players, MTN Nigeria and Airtel, which together control over 86 per cent of the country’s mobile subscriber base.
MTN retained its lead with 89.2 million users, accounting for 52 per cent of total subscriptions. Airtel followed with 59 million subscribers, translating to 34.38 per cent.
Globacom held 20.9 million users, or 12.18 per cent, while 9mobile lagged behind with just 2.4 million subscribers, representing 1.42 per cent of the market.
In terms of mobile network technology, 4G remained dominant, accounting for 50.80 per cent of all connections in June, up from 50.29 per cent in May. 5G continued its gradual adoption, rising from 2.93 per cent to 3.07 per cent.
Meanwhile, older technologies continued to decline, with 2G dropping to 38.47 per cent and 3G falling to 7.66 per cent.
Internet subscriptions also dipped slightly in June. The total number of active internet users declined from 141.57 million in May to 141.17 million, with mobile GSM users making up over 140.6 million of that figure.
Fixed wired internet subscriptions saw a slight rise from 14,599 to 26,794, while Voice over IP (VoIP) users grew modestly to 212,470.
Broadband penetration slipped marginally from 48.81 per cent in May to 48.78 per cent in June, with total broadband subscriptions dropping slightly to 105.75 million.
Despite the decline in user numbers, data usage continued to rise. Nigeria’s total internet consumption increased from about 1,043,432 terabytes in May to 1,044,073 terabytes in June, marking a 0.1 per cent monthly growth.
From January to June 2025, data consumption grew by 4.3 per cent overall, suggesting that while there are fewer users, average data usage per individual is increasing, driven by video streaming, social media, remote work, and online commerce.
The June performance highlights a mixed outlook for Nigeria’s telecom sector. While regulatory efforts are helping to clean up subscriber records, market consolidation and slowed broadband expansion could pose challenges to the country’s digital inclusion targets.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
