Telecoms Subscribers’ Growth Hits 189M as MTN Maintains Lead with 96.9M

Nigeria's telecommunications sector continues its upward trajectory, with total subscribers reaching 189,675,650 by May 2026, according to recent statistics from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). This represents a steady increase from 188,009,171 subscribers in April 2026.

MTN Nigeria remains the dominant player, holding a 51.19% market share with 96,977,835 subscribers. Airtel follows with 65,450,286 subscribers, representing 34.55% of the market. Globacom and T2 trail with 23,468,730 and 3,538,021 subscribers, respectively.

MTN's continued leadership is underpinned by significant investment. The company's Chief Financial Officer, Modupe Kadri, stated that MTN has invested N1.6 trillion in the last 18 months on network expansion, coverage, capacity building, and customer experience. The company pledged further investment to enhance service quality.

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MTN has spent N1.6 trillion in the last 18 months on network expansion, coverage, capacity building and customer experience, with a promise to further invest in network expansion in the coming years to further enhance its service quality delivery.

The consistent growth in subscriptions and teledensity, which measures active telephone connections per 100 inhabitants, has been observed since November 2025. By May 2026, teledensity reached 87.50%. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria, attributed this sustained growth to a stable operating environment, the NCC's regulatory excellence, and supportive government policies on tariffs and investments.

The NCC is mandated by the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 to monitor and report on the industry's state, providing statistical analyses and identifying trends in services, tariffs, operators, technology, subscribers, and market competition.

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The continuous growth to stable telecoms operating environment, powered by regulatory excellence of the telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the fair policy on tariff and investments from the Federal Government of Nigeria.