Nigeria’s telecommunications sector continued its steady expansion in February 2026, with fourth-generation (4G) networks now powering more than half of all mobile connections while monthly data usage remained above 1.2 million terabytes, according to new figures from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The regulator said active mobile subscriptions rose to 184.6 million in February, up from 182.2 million in January, while teledensity climbed to 85.16 percent. The figures underline the growing reliance on mobile connectivity in Africa’s most populous country as more Nigerians go online for communication, business, and digital services.
Market leadership remained unchanged. MTN Nigeria retained the largest share with 95.31 million subscribers, followed by Airtel Nigeria with over 63 million users, while Globacom and T2 (formerly 9mobile) held smaller portions of the market.
Industry data showed a clear migration toward faster networks. Fourth-generation technology accounted for about 53.6 percent of all connections in February, confirming that Nigeria has effectively entered a 4G-dominated phase as consumers shift away from older networks.
Mobile data consumption also remained extremely high. Nigerians used about 1.26 million terabytes of mobile data in February, only slightly below the record levels seen earlier in the year, reflecting the strong demand for streaming, social media and digital services across the country.
Officials say the trend reflects a broader digital transformation in Nigeria’s economy.
Speaking on recent industry developments, Aminu Maida, the executive vice chairman of the NCC, said stronger regulation and data-driven policies are essential as the sector becomes increasingly central to innovation and economic growth in the digital era.
Operators say the surge in data traffic is reshaping business models. Karl Toriola, the chief executive of MTN Nigeria, described Nigeria’s appetite for internet services as exceptional, noting that telecom companies are positioning to capture long-term growth opportunities driven by rising data demand and smartphone adoption.
Industry data also show that increased usage is linked to expanding digital activities such as social media, streaming platforms and online services, which are pushing telecom operators to invest heavily in network capacity and infrastructure upgrades.
Despite the growth, analysts say challenges remain, including uneven rural coverage, infrastructure costs and heavy reliance on a few major operators.
However, the steady rise in subscriptions, broadband adoption and 4G migration suggests Nigeria’s telecom market still has room to expand as more citizens connect to the digital economy.
The NCC publishes telecom statistics monthly, and the latest figures confirm that while the sector is maturing, data services and next-generation networks will continue to drive growth in the coming years.
