Follow Us on Google
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Aminu Maida, has attributed the growing appetite for mobile Internet among Nigerians to fresh investment in telecommunications infrastructure as data consumption continues to rise across the country.
He revealed that data consumption reached 1.66 million terabyte (TB) in July 2026, the highest monthly volume in the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) published series.
“The July figure followed 1.53 million TB in June and 1.50 million TB in May, highlighting the sustained growth in demand for mobile Internet services.
“Between January and July 2026, Nigerians consumed approximately 10.18 million TB of data, compared to about 7.09 million TB during the same period in 2025,” he said.
He said the figures represent an increase of roughly 43.6 percent, based on the NCC’s monthly data.
The rising demand, he said, was placing greater requirements on network capacity, fibre infrastructure, equipment, coverage and maintenance.
According to a recent report, MTN Nigeria’s network has invested N1 trillion in network capacity in 2025, more than twice the N443.5 billion it invested in 2024, a development analysts said clearly illustrates the scale of investment required to support growth in the sector.
Maida noted that investment is also extending beyond mobile network capacity into fixed broadband and data-centre infrastructure.
“MTN has been expanding its fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) and fixed wireless access businesses, alongside a data-centre project in Lagos for which it disclosed a commitment of more than $240 million. The first phase is expected to cost about $120 million.
Other News
“The NCC recorded 319,735 total FTTH subscriptions in the second quarter of 2026, with MTN accounting for 176,468.
“But the infrastructure required to support rising data demand must not only be expanded; existing networks also need to be maintained and protected,” Maida said.
He noted that more than 5,000 fibre-optic cable cuts occurred in the first half of 2026, a development largely linked to road construction, excavation and other civil works.
He, however, warned that damage to fibre infrastructure could result in failed calls, blocked payments, interrupted services and lost economic opportunities.
According to him, the growing dependence on connectivity was also reflected in the wider economy.
He said: “The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) reported that Point-of-Sale (PoS) transactions reached N18.78 trillion in the first quarter of 2026, up by 79.03 percent from N10.49 trillion in Q1 2025.
“The growth in electronic transactions underscores the increasing role of connectivity in everyday commercial activities, particularly for merchants and customers, who depend on digital payment channels.
“The infrastructure supporting Nigeria’s expanding digital economy extends beyond mobile network sites to include fibre transmission networks, spectrum and radio equipment, data centres, broadband infrastructure, power systems and digital platforms.”
He disclosed that MTN’s FY2025 results also showed stronger growth in data, enterprise connectivity and home broadband, with FTTH identified as a core investment priority as demand for high-quality home connectivity grows.
He stressed that as data consumption rises, the infrastructure supporting that usage requires continuous capital investment, maintenance, power and protection.
“For consumers, the growth may be most visible in the increasing amount of data used on mobile devices. Behind that consumption, however, is a growing network of physical and digital infrastructure required to keep Nigeria’s increasingly connected economy running,” he submitted.
