Tariff Hike Triggers Drop in Internet Users, Shifts in Data Use and Subscriber Movement — NCC Report

Nigeria’s telecommunications sector is feeling the impact of a steep 50 percent tariff hike introduced in January 2025, with a noticeable decline in internet subscriptions and shifting usage patterns across networks, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The commission’s latest report revealed that the number of internet users dropped by nearly one million in February, falling from 142.16 million to 141.25 million. Though March saw a partial rebound, pushing the figure up to 142.05 million, data usage remained volatile.

The report highlighted a sharp 12 percent drop in data consumption in February, falling from January’s one exabyte milestone to 893.06 petabytes. While March saw a recovery of 11.5 percent—bringing usage up to 995.88 petabytes—the sector still hasn’t matched its pre-tariff peak.

“Subscribers continued to exhibit caution in their usage habits due to the increased tariffs,” the report noted, suggesting that price sensitivity remains a key driver of consumer behavior.

Growth Amid Decline: New Users Join Despite Data Hesitation
Interestingly, while internet activity dipped, mobile subscriptions continued to grow. Between January and March, operators added 3.39 million new telephone users, increasing total active lines from 169.32 million to 172.71 million. As a result, Nigeria’s teledensity rose from 78.10 percent to 79.67 percent.

Market Leaders Hold Their Ground
Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) maintained their stronghold in the internet segment. MTN Nigeria led with 75.62 million internet users, followed by Airtel with 48.8 million, Globacom with 15.37 million, and 9mobile trailing with just 1.75 million.

In overall subscriber numbers, MTN also dominated with 90.5 million active lines, holding a commanding 52.48 percent share of the market. Airtel followed at 58.3 million users (33.78 percent), while Globacom and 9mobile accounted for 12 percent and 1.72 percent, respectively.

Porting Trends Reveal 9mobile's Subscriber Struggles
The NCC also highlighted movement between networks. 9mobile continued to lose ground, with 5,809 users porting out of its service in February and March combined. This far outpaced outgoing porting numbers for other providers: MTN lost 647 users, Airtel 695, and Globacom 771.

On the flip side, MTN attracted the most new users from other networks, gaining 4,855 customers. Airtel followed with 2,084, and Globacom added 1,007 new subscribers via porting. 9mobile, however, only recorded three incoming portings during the same period.

In total, 7,922 subscribers switched providers across the country in February and March — a sign that users are actively seeking better value in a tightening economy.

These figures paint a nuanced picture of Nigeria’s telecom landscape: while higher tariffs have dampened internet use, overall subscriber growth and competitive shifts suggest a sector still in motion — adapting to new realities.