Nigerians consumed about 6.98 million terabytes of internet data between January and May 2026, highlighting the growing role of digital connectivity in banking, business, education, entertainment and everyday communication.
Data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) showed that May recorded the highest consumption during the five-month period, with 1,504,067.36TB, compared with 1,414,848.70TB in April.
January recorded 1,385,536.04TB, while February had the lowest figure at 1,260,060.27TB. Consumption increased to 1,422,764.54TB in March before slightly declining in April and rising again in May.
The figures mean Nigerians consumed an average of roughly 1.4 million TB of data each month during the period.
Banking and Business Go Digital
The increasing data consumption reflects the growing shift from physical services to digital platforms.
Millions of Nigerians now use mobile applications to check account balances, transfer money, pay bills, buy airtime and receive payments without visiting bank branches.
MTN Nigeria Chief Financial Officer, Modupe Kadri, noted that financial services now depend heavily on data.
Small businesses are also increasingly reliant on internet connectivity. Traders and entrepreneurs can advertise products on social media, communicate with customers, receive electronic payments, interact with suppliers and arrange deliveries entirely online.
Work Moves Online
Internet usage has also transformed the workplace.
Virtual meetings, emails, cloud-based document sharing and messaging platforms have become part of everyday business operations, allowing workers to collaborate without travelling between cities.
Kadri said the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital work habits, adding that many people have not returned completely to their pre-pandemic routines.
For businesses, reliable connectivity has become essential, as network disruptions can result in missed meetings, delayed transactions, lost sales and interrupted communication.
Entertainment Drives Data Demand
Entertainment is another major contributor to Nigeria’s rising data consumption.
Young Nigerians increasingly stream films, music, football matches, live events and social media content using smartphones.
They are also creating and distributing large amounts of digital content. Major sporting events, concerts, political developments and celebrity stories can generate significant traffic as users record, upload, stream, comment on and share content across different platforms.
Kadri attributed part of the trend to Nigeria’s large youthful population, which he described as a generation of digital natives.
Education and AI Add to Usage
Education is also becoming increasingly digital, with students using smartphones to access tutorials, research materials, online courses, educational videos and digital libraries.
Teachers and institutions similarly use online platforms to share learning materials and communicate with students.
The growing use of artificial intelligence is adding another source of data consumption, as students and professionals increasingly use AI tools for research, writing, coding, learning and productivity.
Internet Becomes a Marketplace
Small businesses are also using digital platforms as virtual storefronts.
Fashion designers, food vendors, photographers, hairstylists, furniture makers and online retailers can promote their products on platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, communicate with customers and receive payments electronically.
This allows businesses in cities such as Lagos to potentially reach customers in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and outside Nigeria without establishing physical branches.
Telecom Market Remains Huge
NCC figures showed that in May, MTN had 96,977,835 subscribers, Airtel had 65,450,286, Globacom recorded 23,468,730 and T2 had 3,538,021 subscribers.
The figures represent subscriptions rather than necessarily unique individuals but demonstrate the scale of Nigeria’s telecommunications market.
Kadri said MTN had about 55.6 million active data subscribers, with average monthly consumption of almost 15 gigabytes.
Growing Demand Requires More Investment
The surge in data usage is increasing pressure on telecommunications infrastructure.
Operators must continually invest in network capacity, fibre infrastructure and other facilities to meet growing demand.
MTN said it spent more than N1.6 trillion on capital expenditure between January 2025 and the first half of 2026, including about N1 trillion in 2025 and N600 billion in the first six months of 2026.
Kadri said the investment had been channelled back into the network.
However, challenges including fibre cuts, vandalism, electricity constraints and disputes over telecom sites continue to affect service delivery.
Affordability Remains a Concern
The increase in data consumption has also raised questions about affordability.
While telecom operators need sufficient revenue to maintain and expand infrastructure, consumers require affordable services to remain connected.
Kadri argued that sustainable investment depends on pricing that reflects the cost of providing telecommunications services.
He said the value of data should also be assessed based on what consumers are able to achieve through connectivity.
Data Consumption Reflects Nigeria’s Digital Transformation
The 6.98 million TB consumed between January and May represents more than network traffic.
It reflects millions of Nigerians banking, working, studying, shopping, running businesses, watching films, listening to music, communicating and creating content online.
With more financial services, businesses, entertainment, education and jobs moving into the digital space, demand for connectivity is expected to continue rising.
The challenge for Nigeria is therefore no longer simply expanding internet access, but ensuring that fibre networks, data centres, electricity supply, investment and policies can keep pace with the country’s rapidly growing digital economy.
