Subscribers on MTN and Airtel networks in Nigeria have collectively spent a staggering total of N2.53 trillion on both voice and data services during the first half of 2025, according to recent financial disclosures from both telecom giants. This figure marks a significant 50.9% increase from the N1.68 trillion recorded during the same period in 2024, highlighting the robust growth and increasing reliance on mobile connectivity across the country.
According to the newly released half-year financial results, MTN Nigeria dominated the market share by contributing the lion’s portion of this revenue. The company reported earnings of N2.12 trillion from voice and data services between January and June 2025 — a sharp 55.7% year-on-year growth from N1.36 trillion earned in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Specifically, MTN’s data revenue experienced remarkable growth, surging by 69.2% to reach N1.23 trillion, underpinned by accelerated digital adoption and network investments. Meanwhile, voice revenue also showed strong performance, rising by 40.3% to N887.13 billion. The company attributed this financial uplift to a combination of factors including high consumer demand, strategic price reviews, and continued expansion in its data subscriber base.
The telco noted that its number of active data subscribers increased by 11.8%, reaching 51 million by the end of June 2025. Additionally, its total mobile subscriber base expanded to 84.7 million, reflecting a 6.7% growth. This expanding customer base, coupled with rising internet consumption trends, drove up the average monthly data usage per user to 13.2GB. This was largely facilitated by a 62.6% smartphone penetration rate and a 41.2% increase in data traffic year-on-year.
Thanks to this growth momentum and improvements in its pricing model, MTN achieved a major financial turnaround in the first half of the year. The company reported a profit of N414.9 billion in H1 2025, a significant reversal from the loss of N519.1 billion posted during the same period in 2024. Furthermore, MTN’s EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortisation) more than doubled to N1.2 trillion, with a healthy EBITDA margin of 50.6%.
Given these positive results, MTN Nigeria has revised its full-year financial outlook, now projecting at least 50% growth in both service revenue and EBITDA margin. The outlook reflects the company’s confidence in sustaining its upward trajectory through continued investments in infrastructure and customer engagement strategies.
Meanwhile, Airtel Nigeria also reported impressive growth figures for the first half of 2025. The telecom operator posted a combined voice and data revenue of $298 million (approximately N412.43 billion), which represents a 30.1% increase over the N316.94 billion reported in H1 2024.
Airtel’s data services segment saw the most growth, with revenue increasing by 40.2% to $164 million (N226.98 billion), driven by increased data consumption and customer acquisitions. Voice revenue also improved, rising by 19.1% to $134 million (N185.46 billion). Airtel’s total customer base grew to 53.6 million subscribers, with data users accounting for 29.3 million of that figure, marking an 11.3% growth in active data users.
The rise in digital usage was further highlighted by a jump in average monthly data consumption per subscriber, which increased to 9.3GB, up from 7.3GB in the previous year. Smartphone penetration within Airtel’s network also rose to 51.4%, reinforcing the ongoing shift toward mobile internet usage in Nigeria’s evolving digital economy.
In terms of profitability, Airtel delivered strong performance as well, with EBITDA rising by 49.9% to $185 million. The company also reported an improvement in its EBITDA margin, which increased to 55.7%, driven by effective cost control measures, increased scale, and higher service uptake across its network.
Despite facing previous challenges related to currency devaluation and exchange rate volatility, Airtel said it has now achieved improved financial health and enhanced liquidity position. These gains were made possible through careful financial planning, robust operational performance, and improved macroeconomic conditions in Nigeria.
Both MTN and Airtel credited a better economic climate for the solid results, citing a decline in inflation to 22.2% by June 2025 and a more stable exchange rate, with the naira settling around N1,530 to the US dollar. These developments have provided more predictability for capital investment and operational budgeting.
Additionally, MTN Nigeria announced the commissioning of the first phase of its US$240 million Dabengwa Tier III Data Centre in July 2025. The state-of-the-art facility is poised to become the largest data centre in West Africa, offering robust infrastructure for cloud computing, enterprise hosting, and digital transformation across the region.
Karl Toriola, the CEO of MTN Nigeria, expressed confidence in the company’s strategic direction, stating:
“We maintained strong commercial momentum in H1 2025 through disciplined execution, targeted customer engagement and network investments… Active data users rose by 3.3 million in H1, driving a 41.2% year-on-year increase in data traffic.”
On a broader pan-African scale, Airtel Africa has taken a significant step forward by forming a strategic partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink. The partnership aims to bring satellite-based broadband services to underserved and remote areas across Africa, including Nigeria. This initiative is expected to provide connectivity to rural schools, healthcare centres, and communities with limited access to traditional network infrastructure.
Airtel disclosed that Starlink has already secured operating licenses in 9 out of the 14 African countries where Airtel has a presence, with licensing processes ongoing in the remaining markets. This partnership could redefine internet accessibility in remote regions and close the digital divide across the continent.