By Abigail Mbah
Nigeria’s growing appetite for internet connectivity is driving a major surge in MTN’s network traffic, with data consumption rising 30.1 per cent in the first nine months of 2026 as home fibre connections account for an increasingly significant share of usage.
MTN Nigeria’s data traffic growth for the nine months ended September 30 reflects rising demand from households, businesses and individual subscribers, alongside increased adoption of high-speed internet services.
Average monthly data consumption per active user increased 16.2 per cent to 15.3GB, reaching 17.2GB in the third quarter. Active data subscribers grew 12 per cent to 57.2 million, while the operator’s total subscriber base increased 10.9 per cent to 94.7 million.
The surge in usage translated into stronger financial performance, with data revenue climbing 35.8 per cent to ₦2.68 trillion. Data now accounts for approximately 58 per cent of MTN’s service revenue, rising to about 61 per cent in the third quarter.
A notable development is the growing contribution of Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) services, which now account for approximately 13 per cent of the company’s total data traffic.
The increasing share of fibre traffic highlights the growing importance of fixed broadband in Nigeria’s telecommunications market. By moving more household and business internet consumption to fibre connections, MTN can ease pressure on its mobile network while improving capacity utilisation and service efficiency.
The company, which describes itself as a leader in Nigeria’s FTTH market, is positioning home broadband as a major growth opportunity alongside its traditional mobile services.
To accommodate rising demand, MTN increased capital expenditure, excluding leases, by 14.2 per cent to ₦864.8 billion during the nine-month period. Investment accelerated in the third quarter, rising 69.1 per cent to ₦243.9 billion, as the operator expanded network coverage, capacity, service quality and home broadband infrastructure.
Smartphone penetration across its network also improved to 66 per cent, reflecting the continued migration of subscribers to 4G- and 5G-compatible devices. The operator also reported improved population coverage for its 5G network.
The latest figures underscore a broader transformation in Nigeria’s digital economy, where increasing dependence on video streaming, cloud services, digital payments, remote work and online business activities is driving demand for faster and more reliable connectivity.
As data consumption continues to rise, telecom operators are increasingly looking beyond conventional mobile broadband to fixed fibre and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) solutions to meet the country’s expanding connectivity needs.
Although MTN did not disclose detailed FTTH subscriber numbers or homes-passed figures in its latest results, the contribution of fibre to 13 per cent of total network traffic signals that fixed broadband is becoming an increasingly important component of its business and Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.