Nigeria’s telecom industry is facing renewed public scrutiny after MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria recorded major increases in customer spending during the 2025 financial year.
New financial reports from both operators showed a sharp rise in Average Revenue Per User, a key industry metric that measures how much subscribers spend monthly on calls, data, and digital services. The increase followed recent tariff adjustments approved within the sector and growing internet consumption across the country.
The News Chronicle reports that MTN’s average monthly customer spending rose above N5,000 during the year, while Airtel subscribers also recorded higher average monthly expenses compared to the previous year. The development helped both telecom firms post significant revenue growth as demand for mobile internet services continued to expand rapidly.
According to industry experts, the rise is linked to increased tariffs and Nigeria’s growing reliance on digital platforms, video streaming, social media, and internet-based business activities. According to recent statistics from the Nigerian Communications Commission, internet use all around the nation has surged dramatically over the past twelve months.
Even with the revenue increase, many customers still express dissatisfaction with the network quality and rising communication expenses. Regulators, meanwhile, claim that telecom firms are making significant investments in infrastructure enhancements aimed at improving service provisioning across the country.
