Nigeria Adds 78,000 Fibre Users as FTTX Adoption Accelerates
New industry data reveals a significant boost in Nigeria’s fixed-line broadband adoption during the first half of 2026. The number of fibre to the X (FTTX) subscribers reached 319,735 in Q2, marking a 29% increase from 241,750 in Q1. This is the first time the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has provided specific data for FTTX, highlighting its growing importance to Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
The expansion of fibre networks aligns with efforts like Project BRIDGE, which aims to shift high-bandwidth users from congested mobile networks to dedicated fibre lines. The Federal Government plans to commence implementation of the 90,000km fibre deployment by October, further accelerating this trend.
Driving Factors Behind Fibre Growth
Several factors are contributing to this surge:
- Increased data consumption: Nigerian internet users consumed a record 1.53 terabytes of data in June 2026, straining mobile network capacity
- MTN FiberX momentum: The operator’s FTTX service has reached 176,468 subscribers and continues expanding across major cities
- Demand for high-bandwidth applications: Streaming services, remote work, cloud computing, and other data-intensive activities require the speed and reliability of fibre connections
Market Dynamics & Future Outlook
Despite this impressive growth, FTTX still represents a small fraction (less than 1%) of Nigeria’s total internet subscriptions. This indicates significant untapped potential for further expansion.
Fibre currently accounts for 76% of Nigeria’s active ISP subscribers, with Spectranet leading the market at 111,384 users followed by Starlink and FiberOne. The remaining subscribers utilize alternative technologies like satellite or fixed wireless systems.
As Project BRIDGE gets underway and fibre infrastructure continues to expand, we can expect even greater adoption of FTTX in Nigeria’s digital future.