Nigeria’s Digital Leap: Almost a Million New Users Join Online Space in April

New data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) reveals a significant expansion of Nigeria’s internet user base. In April alone, approximately 904,000 new users connected to the digital world, bringing the total to 154.7 million subscribers.

The surge is primarily driven by mobile network operators, who account for 154.3 million users, followed by VoIP services (220,166) and fixed wired connections (156,662). While data from Internet Service Providers remains unavailable for April, their subscriber count stood at 352,006 in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Broadband Boom Continues

The most notable development is the dramatic increase in broadband subscribers, which now number 120.7 million—a gain of nearly 3 million users since last year. This represents a 1.37 percentage point jump in broadband penetration to 55.67% from March’s 54.30%.

This growth reflects several factors, including:

  • The increasing demand for high-speed networks
  • Wider adoption of smartphones with advanced features
  • Growing need for larger data allowances

Network Quality Concerns Persist

Despite the positive trends, challenges remain. Data usage in April (1.414 million terabytes) was slightly down from March’s 1.422 million—a disconnect given the surge in broadband subscriptions. Industry experts attribute this to:

  • Frequent fiber cuts
  • Vandalism of infrastructure
  • Power outages
  • Poor network quality issues

Telcos have pledged to improve service through increased investment and security measures.

Subscriber Snapshot

As of April, Nigeria’s telecom subscriber base reached 188 million—a 1.24% increase from the previous month. Key players include:

  • MTN Nigeria: 96.4 million users (approaching 100 million milestone)
  • Airtel: 64.7 million users
  • Globacom: 23.2 million users
  • T2mobile: 3.6 million users