Nigeria’s mobile data consumption hit a record 1.66 million terabytes (TB) in July 2026, underscoring the growing infrastructure requirements created by the country’s expanding digital activity.

The figure, recorded by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), followed 1.53 million TB in June and 1.50 million TB in May, making July the highest monthly volume in the regulator’s published series.
Between January and July 2026, Nigerians consumed about 10.18 million TB of data, compared with 7.09 million TB during the same period in 2025, representing growth of roughly 43.6 per cent based on the NCC’s monthly figures.

The rising demand is placing greater pressure on network capacity, fibre infrastructure, equipment, coverage and the maintenance of existing assets.

MTN Nigeria’s investment illustrates the scale of capital involved. The operator invested N1 trillion in network capacity in 2025, more than double its 2024 investment.

The company is also expanding fixed broadband through fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) and fixed wireless access, alongside a new data centre in Lagos. MTN has committed more than $240 million to the project, with the first phase costing about $120 million.

Industry-wide, the NCC recorded 319,735 FTTH subscriptions in the second quarter of 2026, with MTN accounting for 176,468.
But expanding the infrastructure footprint also increases the need for maintenance and protection.

The NCC said more than 5,000 fibre-optic cable cuts were recorded in the first half of 2026, largely linked to road construction, excavation and other civil works.
NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Aminu Maida, warned that damage to fibre infrastructure could result in failed calls, blocked payments, interrupted services and lost economic opportunities.

The risks are becoming more significant as commercial activity increasingly depends on digital connectivity. NIBSS reported that POS transaction value reached N18.78 trillion in Q1 2026, up 79.03 per cent from N10.49 trillion in Q1 2025.

The growth in data consumption and digital transactions points to a broader infrastructure requirement covering fibre transmission networks, spectrum and radio equipment, data centres, broadband infrastructure, power systems and digital platforms.

MTN’s FY2025 results showed stronger growth in data, enterprise connectivity and home broadband, while the company identified FTTH as a core investment priority as demand for high-quality home connectivity increases.
The investment cycle is therefore continuous: higher usage requires more capacity, while additional capacity requires capital, power, maintenance and protection.

As Nigeria’s digital economy expands across digital payments, e-commerce, cloud services, online work and entertainment, the physical infrastructure supporting that activity will require continued expansion and maintenance.