Nigeria’s mobile telecommunications market has recovered to its strongest level in more than two years. The Nigeria mobile market rebounds trend shows total active subscriptions across the country’s four major operators rising to 189.4 million in May, according to the latest industry data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The May figure represents the highest subscriber level recorded since April 2024, when the combined mobile database stood at 216.6 million, before a period of significant decline triggered by regulatory efforts to clean up inactive and improperly registered SIM cards.
MTN Maintains Its Dominant LeadThe recovery was driven largely by growth among the country’s leading operators, with MTN Nigeria maintaining its dominance of the market. The largest network operator in Nigeria closed May with 96.9 million active subscriptions, accounting for 51.19 percent of the total mobile market.
Airtel Nigeria, the second-largest operator, recorded 65.4 million active subscriptions during the period, representing a 34.55 percent market share. Globacom, Nigeria’s third-largest telecom operator, had 23.4 million active subscriptions, equivalent to 12.39 percent of the market, while T2, formerly known as 9mobile, remained the smallest operator with 3.5 million subscriptions.
A Sector Recovering From SIM Registration FalloutThe latest data highlights the gradual recovery of Nigeria’s telecom sector after a challenging period marked by subscriber losses arising from SIM registration compliance exercises and restrictions on unverified lines.
Despite the overall industry recovery, competition among operators remains uneven, with MTN continuing to widen its lead over rivals. T2’s Ongoing Struggles T2, which rebranded from 9mobile about a year ago as part of efforts to reposition the business, has struggled to significantly expand its customer base. The operator has remained within the three million subscription range since September 2025.
The company, which once had more than 22 million subscribers, has faced persistent challenges, including network investment pressures and customer retention issues, despite an infrastructure-sharing agreement signed with MTN in July 2025.
What’s Driving the RecoveryThe recovery in subscriber numbers comes as telecom operators continue investing in network expansion, data infrastructure and digital services to meet rising demand for connectivity.
With mobile subscriptions serving as a key indicator of Nigeria’s digital economy growth, industry analysts say sustained growth will depend on operators’ ability to improve service quality, expand coverage, and manage rising operational costs.
