Subscribers on MTN and Airtel networks spent a combined total of ₦2.53 trillion on voice and data services in the first half of 2025 — a 50.9% increase from ₦1.68 trillion recorded during the same period in 2024.
This is according to the half-year financial results released by both telecom giants, reflecting a surge in consumer spending on telecommunications services. The growth is driven by tariff adjustments, increased smartphone penetration, rising data consumption, and continued network expansion.
MTN Nigeria: Massive Revenue Boost and Return to Profit
MTN Nigeria alone accounted for ₦2.12 trillion of the total, marking a 55.7% year-on-year growth from ₦1.36 trillion in H1 2024. The telco’s data revenue jumped by 69.2% to ₦1.23 trillion, while voice revenue rose by 40.3% to ₦887.13 billion.
The company credited the performance to strong demand, price reviews implemented in Q2, and an expanding data subscriber base. MTN’s active data users grew by 11.8% to 51 million, while its overall mobile subscriber base rose by 6.7% to 84.7 million.
Average data consumption per user surged by 26.3% to 13.2GB per month, backed by a smartphone penetration rate of 62.6% and a 41.2% increase in total data traffic. The price review across voice and data plans also significantly boosted service revenue.
As a result, MTN reversed its loss of ₦519.1 billion in H1 2024 to post a profit after tax of ₦414.9 billion in H1 2025. EBITDA more than doubled, rising by 119.5% to ₦1.2 trillion, with the EBITDA margin improving to 50.6%. The company has since raised its full-year guidance, projecting service revenue and EBITDA margin growth of at least 50%.
Airtel Nigeria: Steady Growth Despite Exchange Rate Challenges
Airtel Nigeria reported a total of $298 million (₦412.43 billion) in voice and data revenue for the same period, based on an exchange rate of ₦1,384/$. This represents a 30.1% increase from ₦316.94 billion in H1 2024.
Data revenue grew by 40.2%, rising from $117 million (₦161.93 billion) to $164 million (₦226.98 billion), while voice revenue increased by 19.1% from $112 million (₦155.01 billion) to $134 million (₦185.46 billion).
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Airtel’s growth was fueled by an 11.3% increase in its data subscriber base to 29.3 million and a 46.8% jump in data ARPU. Average monthly data usage rose from 7.3GB to 9.3GB, while smartphone penetration hit 51.4%. Its total customer base in Nigeria grew by 6.3% to 53.6 million.
EBITDA for Airtel Nigeria rose by 49.9% year-on-year to $185 million, with an improved EBITDA margin of 55.7%, buoyed by strong revenue growth and cost efficiency efforts. Despite previous setbacks due to currency devaluation, the telco has seen improved profitability and stronger cash flow in 2025.
Credit: PUNCH
