Nigerians spent a staggering ₦2.5 trillion on telecommunications services—calls and data—between January and June 2025, marking a 50.9% increase compared to the ₦1.66 trillion spent during the same period last year.
According to new figures published by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the surge is driven by higher smartphone penetration, increased internet dependence, and broader mobile network coverage. MTN Nigeria and Airtel led the market share, jointly accounting for over 75% of the total spend.
This data underscores how mobile services have become central to everyday life, especially as more Nigerians rely on smartphones for remote work, education, financial transactions, and entertainment. Analysts also point to rising data costs as a result of inflation and forex pressure as contributing factors to the spike in revenue.
Industry experts believe the growth trend signals more aggressive infrastructure investment in 5G rollouts and local content distribution. However, concerns remain about affordability and service quality, especially in underserved rural regions.
As Nigeria continues its digital evolution, the spending figure reveals not just economic participation but a deeper shift in communication culture,where access to mobile data is no longer optional, but essential.