Data from the latest industry report reveals a sharpening divide in the Nigerian telecommunications landscape, with MTN Nigeria further cementing its position as the undisputed market leader.
As of December 2025, the Yellow Medic has successfully captured more than half of the entire GSM subscriber base, leaving competitors to jostle for the remaining minority share.
The MTN Powerhouse
MTN continues to outpace its rivals by a significant margin, leveraging its extensive infrastructure and aggressive data-led growth strategies.
Subscriber Base: MTN boasts a staggering 93,064,952 active subscribers.
Market Control: The operator now holds a 51.87% market share, effectively controlling more than half of the connected GSM population in Nigeria.
Airtel Maintains the Challenger Spot
Airtel remains the primary alternative for Nigerian subscribers, holding a firm grip on the second-place position, though it still trails the leader by over 30 million users.
- Subscriber Base: Airtel recorded 60,893,280 subscribers by the end of the year.
- Market Share: The telco accounts for 33.94% of the total market.
Glo and T2 Under Pressure
The data reflects a challenging environment for Globacom and T2, both of which have seen their influence diluted by the aggressive expansion of the top two players.
- Globacom: Once a fierce contender for the second spot, Glo now holds a 12.39% share with 22,225,610 subscribers.
- T2: The operator continues to struggle for scale, ending the period with just 3,228,213 subscribers, representing a marginal 1.80% of the total market.
Market Summary (Dec ’25)
The current trajectory suggests a winner-takes-most scenario. MTN’s crossing of the 50% threshold is a psychological and strategic milestone that may trigger closer regulatory scrutiny regarding market competition.
For smaller players like T2 (formerly 9mobile), the path to sustainability remains precarious without significant capital injection or strategic consolidation.
