Two of Nigeria’s leading mobile network operators, MTN and Airtel, reported substantial data revenue in the third quarter of 2023, with Nigerians significantly increasing their data consumption. In the same period, both companies saw significant growth in their data revenue compared to the previous year.
MTN Nigeria recorded data revenue of N279.5 billion in Q3 2023, reflecting a 38.9% increase compared to the N201.1 billion earned in the same period in the previous year.
Airtel Nigeria reported N123.7 billion ($157 million) in data subscriptions for the same quarter, marking a 29.3% growth in data revenue for the company.
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Both telecom operators attributed this growth in data revenue to the rise in data consumption by their customers.
MTN CEO Karl Toriola mentioned that increased data usage was driven by various factors, including the revamping of MTN’s data bundle offerings, increased smartphone penetration, and network investments aimed at expanding coverage and enhancing the customer experience. Toriola also noted the growth in the number of smartphones on their network and increased data traffic on the 4G network.
Airtel Africa CEO Segun Ogunsanya acknowledged the significant increase in data consumption during the period, with data revenue growth attributed to a growing data customer base and higher data average revenue per user (ARPU). Airtel’s 4G network rollout and the increased data usage per customer also contributed to their positive results.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) reported a consistent increase in data consumption in Nigeria, with internet users consuming 655,879.86 terabytes of data in August 2023, representing a 6.6% rise compared to the previous month. Despite a slight decline in internet subscriptions in the country, existing subscribers increased their internet usage.
This data reflects the growing demand for data services in Nigeria, driven by factors such as increased smartphone adoption, expanded network coverage, and the revamping of data offerings by telecom operators.
