Nigeria’s Internet Service Provider landscape is undergoing a major realignment as fresh industry data shows that Spectranet, Starlink and FibreOne now control most of the active users in the country.
New figures for the second quarter of 2025 from the Nigerian Communications Commission reveal that the three providers collectively account for 65 percent of all customers currently connected to ISPs.
The News Chronicle gathered that the shift has been driven partly by rising operational costs and increasing pressure from mobile network operators, forcing many ISPs to scale down or abandon operations. Although 224 companies hold ISP licences, only 133 remained active by Q2 2025, signalling a shrinking market where nearly two out of every five licensees have gone offline.
Among the active operators, Spectranet held the largest subscriber base with 99,520 customers, although the company has recorded two back-to-back quarterly declines. Starlink continued its upward trajectory, climbing from 59,509 customers in the first quarter of 2025 to 66,523 in the second quarter, placing it within striking distance of the top spot. FibreOne followed with 37,117 customers after recovering from earlier losses.
Other notable providers include iPNX with 15,636 users, Tizeti with 13,996, Broadbased Communications with 9,942 and VDT Communications with 5,325 customers. Despite these numbers, the wider trend points to a shrinking sector. The NCC has raised concerns over the steady disappearance of licensed ISPs, citing unresolved issues such as high bandwidth prices, expensive Right of Way fees, inadequate spectrum and weak corporate governance across the industry.
The situation has been compounded by growing competition from major mobile operators like MTN and Airtel, especially since their rollout of 5G and rapid expansion of Fibre to the Home services. Industry analysts say many enterprise clients who once relied on ISPs are now switching to mobile broadband for its reliability and cost benefits.
Experts warn that the decline of ISPs threatens Nigeria’s ability to meet its National Broadband Plan target of 70 percent population coverage by the end of 2025. Tech analyst Diseye Isoun emphasised that ISPs remain essential for high-quality connectivity in institutions such as universities, hospitals and local businesses. VDT Communications CEO David Omoniyi also expressed concern that indigenous ISPs, many of which are small and medium-sized enterprises, are disappearing without the necessary support to remain viable.
