Nigeria's Internet Data Consumption Rises 43% in 2026

In the first half of 2026, Nigeria experienced a 42.9% increase in internet data consumption, totaling about 8.52 million terabytes, as reported by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). This figure marks a significant rise from the 5.96 million terabytes consumed during the same period in 2025.

The increase highlights the growing dependence of Nigerians on internet services for various activities, including business, education, banking, entertainment, and communication. Alongside the surge in data consumption, broadband subscriptions also saw a notable rise, increasing from 115.04 million in January to 123.11 million in June 2026, which represents an increase of approximately 8.07 million subscriptions or about 7%.

Broadband penetration improved from 53.07% to 56.79% during this six-month period. Aminu Maida, the NCC Executive Vice-Chairman, emphasized the importance of internet connectivity for economic and social activities, noting that Nigerians increasingly rely on digital access for education, employment, financial services, and entrepreneurship.

This rising demand is contributing to enhanced revenues for telecommunications companies.