Subscribers on MTN and Airtel networks spent a total of N2.53tn on voice and data services in the first half of 2025, representing a 50.9 per cent increase from the N1.68tn recorded in the corresponding period of 2024.
This is according to an analysis of the half-year 2025 results released by both telcos.
The figure reflects rising consumer spending on telecommunications, driven by tariff reviews, increased smartphone penetration and sustained network investment by the two largest mobile network operators in Nigeria.
The strong topline performance helped MTN swing from a loss of N519.1bn in H1 2024 to a profit after tax of N414.9bn in H1 2025.
Airtel Nigeria, meanwhile, recorded a total of $298 million in data and voice revenue during the same six-month period.
Using the exchange rate of N1,384/$ adopted by the company, this amounts to N412.43bn—an increase of 30.1 per cent over the N316.94bn reported in H1 2024.
MTN Nigeria generated N2.12tn in voice and data revenue between January and June 2025, marking a 55.7 per cent increase from the N1.36tn recorded in H1 2024.
The telco’s data revenue surged by 69.2 per cent to N1.23tn, up from N727.33bn in the same period last year.
Voice revenue also grew by 40.3 per cent year-on-year to reach N887.13bn, compared to N632.38bn previously.
The company attributed the performance to robust demand, price adjustments implemented largely in the second quarter, and continued growth in its active data user base.
MTN reported an 11.8 per cent increase in active data subscribers to 51 million, while total mobile subscribers rose by 6.7 per cent to 84.7 million.
Average data consumption per subscriber increased by 26.3 per cent to 13.2 gigabytes, supported by smartphone penetration of 62.6 per cent and a 41.2 per cent rise in data traffic.
The telco also executed a price review across voice and data plans during the period, which boosted service revenue.
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation more than doubled, rising by 119.5 per cent to N1.2tn, with the EBITDA margin improving to 50.6 per cent.
The company has since revised its full-year guidance, forecasting service revenue and EBITDA margin growth of at least 50 per cent.
Airtel’s data revenue grew by 40.2 per cent year-on-year, rising from $117 million (N161.93bn) to $164 million (N226.98bn), while voice revenue rose by 19.1 per cent from $112 million (N155.01bn) to $134 million (N185.46bn).
The growth was underpinned by an 11.3 per cent rise in Airtel Nigeria’s data subscriber base to 29.3 million and a 46.8 per cent increase in data average revenue per user.
Data usage per subscriber climbed to 9.3GB monthly, up from 7.3GB in the previous year, while smartphone penetration rose to 51.4 per cent.
The company’s overall customer base grew by 6.3 per cent to 53.6 million by June 2025 in Nigeria.
