The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has confirmed that Nigeria's active mobile subscriptions reached 189.68 million in May 2026, up from 188.01 million in April, intensifying competition among the country's telecom operators. MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria together control nearly 86% of the market, according to the latest NCC data.
Market Leaders MTN and Airtel Expand Their Grip
MTN Nigeria remains the undisputed market leader with 96.98 million active subscribers, commanding a 51.19% share of the total market. Airtel Nigeria follows with 65.45 million subscribers, representing a 34.55% share. Together, these two operators control 85.74% of all active mobile lines in the country.
Globacom holds the third position with 23.47 million subscribers, while T2, formerly known as 9mobile, trails with just 3.54 million active lines. The market share distribution underscores the dominance of the top two players, leaving smaller operators to compete for the remaining 14% of the market.
Teledensity and Broadband Reach New Heights
The consistent month-on-month growth pushed Nigeria's teledensity to 87.50% in May, up from 86.73% in April and 85.67% in March. Broadband subscriptions also rose to 121.64 million in May from 120.68 million in April, lifting broadband penetration to 56.11%.
Data consumption hit a record 1.50 million terabytes in May, up from 1.41 million terabytes in April. This surge is driven by video streaming, fintech platforms, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence applications, according to BusinessDay reports.
Technology Mix: 4G Dominates, 5G Grows
Fourth-generation (4G) technology continues to power most of Nigeria's mobile network, accounting for 54.30% of subscriptions. 5G adoption reached 4.49%, while older technologies are declining, with 2G at 36.12% and 3G falling to 5.10%.
The shift toward newer technologies reflects the growing demand for high-speed internet and data services. As data becomes the primary revenue driver, operators are increasingly focusing on network quality and customer experience rather than just voice services.
Operators Face Challenges Amid Growth
Despite the growth in subscriptions, telecom operators are navigating significant challenges, including high diesel costs, unreliable electricity supply, foreign exchange volatility, and damage to telecom infrastructure. These factors continue to strain operational costs and affect service delivery.
Industry analysts note that competition is shifting from voice services to broadband expansion, network quality, and overall customer experience. The NCC's Executive Vice Chairman, Aminu Maida, has emphasized the regulator's commitment to building a resilient telecoms sector through broader broadband deployment, better service quality, and investment-friendly policies.
NCC Licenses 46 New Telecom Companies
To further boost competition, the NCC has granted 46 Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) licenses. The Commission is currently revising the operational regulatory framework for these new players, aiming to strengthen the MVNO framework, address operational challenges, and foster an environment conducive to market operators offering mobile services without the need to own spectrum or deploy nationwide infrastructure.
As Nigeria's mobile market continues to expand, the battle for customers is expected to intensify, with new entrants and existing players vying for a share of the lucrative data market.
