Nigerians shattered records in November 2025 by consuming 1.236 million terabytes (1.24 petabytes) of mobile data, the highest monthly figure ever recorded, according to data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

This marks a slight but significant increase from October’s estimated 1.235 million TB, capping a year of relentless growth in digital demand despite economic pressures and earlier subscription dips.

The November milestone extends a steady upward trajectory observed throughout 2025. Data usage climbed progressively from lower levels earlier in the year, around 983,000 TB in April amid post-tariff adjustments, to crossing the 1 million TB threshold by mid-year. June saw 1.044 million TB, July surged to 1.131 million TB (then hailed as a record), and August reached 1.152 million TB.

Month-on-month gains averaged 1.8 percent in the second half, driven by recovering subscriptions, expanded 4G coverage, and insatiable appetite for video streaming, social media, and fintech services. This all-time high reflects Nigeria’s deepening digital integration.

MTN and Airtel, controlling over 85 percent of the market, benefited most, with users averaging higher per-subscriber consumption – MTN at around 13 GB monthly and Airtel nearing 10 GB.

Seasonal factors, including holiday promotions and increased online activity, likely boosted November’s marginal rise over October.

Broader metrics reinforce the boom: Internet subscriptions hit 144.8 million in November, while broadband penetration reached 50.58 percent (109.7 million high-speed connections), up sharply from 45.61 percent in January. Active telephony lines rebounded to 177.4 million, adding 2.1 million month-on-month, pushing teledensity to 81.8 percent.

Yet, challenges persist. 5G remains at just 3.6 percent adoption, limited by spectrum and device costs, while the National Broadband Plan’s 70 percent target by year-end appears elusive. Infrastructure strains, such as fibre vandalism and power issues, continue to hinder rural expansion.

As Africa’s largest mobile market, Nigeria’s record data surge signals robust potential for operators and the digital economy. With tariff stability and ongoing investments, analysts forecast continued records into 2026, provided policy support bridges remaining gaps. (BusinessDay)

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