Nigeria’s telecommunications sector is witnessing increasing market concentration, with two major operators now controlling more than 85 per cent of total subscriptions, according to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission and first quarter 2026 earnings reports. The trend highlights a widening gap between dominant players and smaller competitors, raising concerns about competition, pricing power, and the long term structure of the market.
Industry figures show that MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and Airtel Nigeria jointly account for about 85.87 per cent of the market. MTN leads with over 95.7 million subscribers, maintaining more than half of total active lines, followed by Airtel with 63.6 million users. Other operators, including Globacom and 9mobile, trail significantly with 22.6 million and 3.4 million subscribers respectively.
Overall, the sector continues to expand, with total active subscriptions rising to about 185.7 million by March 2026 from 169.3 million recorded in January 2025. The growth is accompanied by a rapid shift toward high speed connectivity, as 4G networks now account for over half of usage, while 5G adoption continues to gain traction. In contrast, older 2G and 3G technologies are steadily declining in relevance as consumers migrate to faster data services.
Despite broader economic pressures, telecom operators reported strong financial performance. MTN Nigeria posted service revenue of ₦1.5 trillion for the first quarter of 2026, reflecting a 41.8 per cent year on year increase. Teledensity also improved, rising to 85.67 per cent in March, an indication of deeper market penetration. Analysts say the combination of subscriber growth and rising concentration could shape future regulatory decisions as authorities balance expansion with the need to sustain competition.