MTN, Airtel Rake In N2.53 Trillion From Nigerians in 6 Months

Nigerians spent a whopping N2.53 trillion on voice and data services provided by MTN and Airtel in the first half of 2025, highlighting the increasing dependence on mobile communication and internet connectivity across the country.

This massive revenue, recorded between January and June 2025, reflects the continued dominance of the two telecom giants in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.

According to industry sources, MTN Nigeria accounted for a substantial portion of the earnings, followed closely by Airtel Nigeria, as both companies expanded their data coverage and introduced new service bundles to cater to the surging demand for connectivity.

Telecom analysts link the spike in subscriber spending to several factors, including rising data consumption driven by video streaming, online education, remote work, and social media usage.

The deployment of 5G technology and aggressive marketing of data-heavy packages have also played a key role in pushing up average revenue per user (ARPU).

Additionally, inflation and the devaluation of the naira have contributed to increased service pricing, indirectly raising customer expenditure across voice and data categories.

With over 220 million mobile subscribers in Nigeria, MTN and Airtel collectively control the bulk of the market, leaving smaller operators like Glo and 9mobile far behind in terms of revenue and user base.

The first-half earnings also signal strong performance from the telecom sector amid broader economic challenges. Experts predict that by the end of 2025, the total revenue from voice and data services could surpass previous records, further cementing telecommunications as one of Nigeria’s most profitable industries.

As consumers continue to prioritize mobile access for communication, entertainment, business, and banking, the reliance on MTN and Airtel services is expected to deepen alongside calls for improved quality, affordability, and service delivery.