Nigeria’s internet user base declined by nearly one million in February following a 50 per cent hike in tariffs on voice, data, and SMS services, according to new data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission.

The NCC’s industry report shows that internet subscriptions fell from 142.16 million in January to 141.25 million in February, marking a significant dip attributed to the price increase implemented at the start of the year. Although a partial recovery was recorded in March, with subscriptions climbing back to 142.05 million, usage patterns suggest lingering caution among consumers.

Data consumption also dropped notably during the period, declining by 12 per cent in February to 893.06 petabytes—down from January’s record high of one exabyte.

The sector rebounded slightly in March, with consumption rising by 11.5 per cent to 995.88 petabytes, but it still fell short of the January peak.

“Despite modest gains in March, the figures indicate that many users remain wary of the increased costs,” the NCC noted.

Still, the telecom sector showed resilience in other areas. Between January and March, operators added 3.39 million new telephone subscribers, boosting the number of active lines from 169.32 million to 172.71 million. This increase raised Nigeria’s teledensity from 78.10 per cent to 79.67 per cent.

Mobile network operators retained their market stronghold. MTN Nigeria led the internet space with 75.62 million users, followed by Airtel with 48.8 million, Globacom with 15.37 million, and 9mobile with 1.75 million users.

MTN also maintained its lead in active telephone lines with 90.5 million subscribers, accounting for 52.48 per cent of the market. Airtel followed with 58.3 million (33.78 per cent), Globacom with 20.7 million (12 per cent), and 9mobile with 2.9 million (1.72 per cent).

Porting data further reflected shifting customer preferences. Between February and March, a total of 7,922 subscribers ported between networks. MTN recorded the highest number of incoming porters, gaining 4,855 customers. Airtel added 2,084, while Globacom welcomed 1,007 new users. In contrast, 9mobile saw only three incoming portings and lost a staggering 5,809 subscribers to other networks—far exceeding the port-out figures of its competitors.

The NCC said these trends highlight the sector’s ongoing challenges amid economic pressures, shifting consumer behaviour, and stiff market competition.