The competition, which was open to senior secondary school students in Abuja, was designed to encourage young people to think critically about environmental issues and raise awareness about environmental protection and sustainability.

The essay competition with the theme: ‘How Is Overpopulation Becoming a Global Pandemic to the Environment?’ received an overwhelming response from participants from over sixty Government Secondary Schools in Abuja, and after careful review and evaluation, the following students emerged as winners: First place: Ukwuoma Uchechukwu Chidera, from Government Secondary School, Dutse.

Second place: Chiemeke Emmanuella, Government Secondary School, Kubwa. Third place: Egwu Favour Onyekachi, Government Secondary School, Kurudu.

Abdulrahman Ado, the Executive Director of Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, 9mobile, represented by Chineze Amanfo, the PR Lead, 9mobile, said, “We would like to appreciate all the participants of the competition for their hard work and efforts and congratulate the winners on their outstanding achievements. We were particularly impressed with the quality of the essays we received. We believe that the competition has succeeded in encouraging young people to think critically about environmental issues. We hope that it has inspired them to take action to protect the planet. We also commend the commitment and support from the FCT Education Secretariat, Abuja.”

The Director of Science, Technology, and Vocational Education, Hajiya Ramatu Habu, representing the Director of Science, Technology, and Innovations, said: “We want to commend 9mobile for putting together this essay competition which has not only increased the writing skills and creativity of our students but also enhanced their research potential as they were able to go in-depth sourcing for educational materials to effectively defend their argument on the topic. We hope this competition will inspire other students to explore this topic further and contribute to the ongoing conversation.”

First-place winner Ukwuoma ecstatically responded after the announcement, saying, “I want to thank 9mobile and the FCT Secretariat for giving us this opportunity. I think someday I will impact other people’s lives as well. Before this competition, I was not aware of the consequences of overpopulation as a global pandemic, but now I am better enlightened, and I would like to inform others as well”.

The essays were evaluated by a panel of renowned education experts based on originality, clarity of expression, depth of research, and relevance to the competition’s theme.

The top 10 winners received prizes and rewards and were recognized for their achievements at the 9mobile office in Abuja.

“9mobile remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote environmental sustainability and will continue to urge young people to be responsible stewards of the environment,” Amanfo reaffirmed in her concluding remarks.

The post 9mobile Announces Winners of 2022 Essay Competition on the Environment appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

In his welcome address, the Chairman, Board of Directors of EMTS (9mobile), and the Emir of Bichi, His Highness, Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero, who was the Special guest of honour stated that the career counselling session was designed as a springboard to set the right path for students to aspire for greatness in any chosen career of their choice.

According to him, the Career Counselling initiative is in line with a key component of the brand’s corporate social responsibility pillar of Education.

He noted that 9mobile constantly seeks opportunities to promote sustainability in Nigeria’s education sector.

“At 9mobile, we understand the importance of education and the countless opportunities therein; that is why we are consciously investing our time, energy, and resources to ensure that students at this level are equipped with the requisite knowledge to make the right career choice.” Ado remarked.

The Emir also lauded 9mobile for organizing a well-resourced session that would profoundly impact the students’ career decisions.

He said, “The people of Bichi are greatly honored by today’s gesture from 9mobile. There is no doubt that this session holds great potential for our students who, before now, may not have had the guidance to determine their future careers. With what has been shared here today, I am certain their future is brighter and filled with better prospects.”

In his presentation, Head, Regional Sales North, 9mobile, Babangida Mukaddas, who facilitated one of the sessions, emphasized the need for proper guidance and mentorship for students to excel in life.

He said, “the journey to a successful career begins with the right combination of subjects at this level which will always inform the choice of a course to study at the university level. For those who may desire to pursue a career in Engineering, you must take your Mathematics, English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Technical drawings seriously.”

Citing himself as an example, Mukaddas remarked that as a sales expert, the art of selling is one of the most exciting professions that requires vast knowledge, especially in mathematics.

Celebrity guest and Kannywood Actor Adam Zango motivated the students to explore different careers to help them secure a brighter future for themselves.

Other personalities at the event include the Zonal Director, Kano State Ministry of Education, Dahiru Aliyu Wudil, who represented the Commissioner of Education Kano State, Hon Muhammad Sunusi Saidu Kiru; Secretary, Bichi Local Government Area, Garuba Usman Dan Aiya; Deputy Provost, Federal College of Education Technical, Bichi, Abdulmumuni Sule; Executive Director, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, 9mobile, Abdulrahman Ado among other dignitaries. 

The post 9mobile Takes Career Counselling to Secondary Schools in Bichi Emirate appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

But then, here we are. The sector’s contribution to the economy is so massive that ignoring it would be like pretending petrol isn’t essential to your car just because the tank is full.

It grew at a real rate of 5.78% in Q3 2025 and accounted for roughly 9.1% of GDP, proving that even in a country notorious for regulatory tangles and infrastructural challenges, telecoms are the backbone of modern Nigeria.

But don’t be deceived by these figures, there’s still a world of congestion, fibre cuts, high expenses, and millions of frustrated subscribers tapping the screen for just one uninterrupted call.

Subscriber Growth and Broadband Penetration: Two Extremes

Active mobile subscriptions hit ~169.3 million in January, growing steadily to 175 million by December, nudging teledensity past 80%, the highest since early 2024. 

We could call this progress since Nigerians are connecting, surfing, streaming, and transacting digitally more than ever. Broadband adoption, too, edged towards 50%, with nearly 49.9% penetration by December 2025, inching closer to the National Broadband Plan’s 70% target.

However, numbers can be deceiving. While urban dwellers bask in fibre-optic speeds and 4G coverage, rural users are fighting with patchy signals and pricey data, nudging us that half the population is still a click away from the digital economy.

Investment, Tariffs, and Infrastructure

Telecom operators collectively poured ~₦824.7 billion into network expansion in H1 2025 alone. Add $1 billion in projected infrastructure investment and the government’s approval of 7,000 new towers, and it looks like Nigeria’s networks are finally meeting up with demand.

Tariff reforms, including a 50 % headroom on pricing, spurred roughly $2 billion in equipment imports, showing serious investor assurance. 

Still, operators battled record operational costs of ~₦5.85 trillion, thanks to energy expenses, multiple taxes, and the notorious Right of Way fees. Growth may be visible on the surface, but the price of keeping the lights, and signals, on is still a big issue.

Technology Deployment: 4G Dominates, 5G Stutters

4G remained king, covering more ground and enabling surges in data consumption. 5G, on the other hand, limped along at ~3.4 % market share, limited by device affordability and limited rollout. 

It’s a classic story where infrastructure exists, purpose exists, but the average Nigerian smartphone wallet does not.

The pledge of next-gen connectivity is there, but the reality is uneven adoption. Even as data usage peaked at 1.15 million terabytes in August, a noteworthy portion of the population is left waiting for the high-speed revolution.

Operator Performance: Leaders, Survivors, and Stragglers

MTN Nigeria retained its crown with ~90.33 million subscribers (~52 % market share). Data revenue surged 69.2 %, while voice grew 40.3 %, enabling MTN to swing from an operating loss in 2024 to a profit in H1 2025. 

The operator also struck a national roaming and spectrum sharing agreement with 9mobile to ease coverage gaps.

Airtel Nigeria was the second-largest operator, hovering around ~58.47 million subscribers (~34 % market share). Its mobile money platform boosted digital revenue, while strategic tariff adjustments helped maintain steady growth.

Globacom recovered modestly to ~21.39 million subscribers (~12 %), but growth lags behind MTN and Airtel, reflecting lingering regulatory and competitive challenges.

9mobile, the smallest operator in terms of numbers, barely moved the needle at ~3.11 million subscribers (~1.8 %). Its mid-year infrastructure-sharing deal with MTN produced minimal subscriber growth, stressing the uphill battle against market authority and service quality issues.

The Dark Side of 2025: Costs, Complaints, and Inequalities

Despite subscriber growth, users complain of slow internet, frequent signal drops, and service congestion. 

Inflation and naira depreciation pushed tariffs higher, leaving low-income households increasingly excluded. Even with near-50% broadband penetration, rural areas lag badly, sustaining a stubborn digital divide.

Infrastructure vandalism and fibre cuts added to the challenge, while regulatory stress and multiple levies, up to 18-20 taxes per service, kept operators constantly on edge. 

Add delayed privatisation of NATCOM and stalled 5G expansion, and it’s apparent that 2025 was a high-wire balancing act, with massive growth shadowed by operational and structural challenges.

Data Usage and Digital Consumption

Data consumption drove Nigeria’s telecom sector growth in 2025. GSM internet subscribers reached 140.36 million, and monthly traffic peaked at 1.15 million terabytes. 

These trends show a high dependency of Nigeria’s population on mobile internet for work, entertainment, education, and finance. It’s a digital sector expanding speedily, even if unevenly.

Policy and Regulatory Space

The government removed a 5% telecom tax mid-year, though analysts warned it wouldn’t automatically lower prices for consumers. 

NCC’s robust monitoring and reporting framework ensured operators stayed accountable, but the environment remained heavy with compliance requirements. 

Regulatory complexity continues to shape strategic decisions, especially for operators outside the top two.

2025 in Summary: Progress with Strings Attached

• The Good: Subscriber numbers hit record highs, broadband approached 50%, GDP contribution remained strong, and 4G/5G coverage expanded steadily.
• The Bad: High operational expenses, affordability limitations, service quality issues, uneven rural coverage, and slow 5G adoption.
• Operator Reality: MTN tops, Airtel holds steady, Globacom recovers slowly, 9mobile struggles.

Nigeria’s telecom sector in 2025 is a study in contrasts, incredible growth and investment, paired with structural and operational challenges. 

If the past year teaches us anything, it’s that subscriber numbers and GDP contribution are not the entire measure of success. Can expansion be turned into reliable, affordable, and inclusive service? So that the mobile revolution benefits not just the urban elite, but the entire nation.

The post Tariff Hikes | Data Surges: The Highs and Lows of Nigeria’s Telecom Sector in 2025 appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

The assessment, conducted on August 27, 2025, forms part of Enextgen’s National Independent Wireless Broadband Quality Reporting (NIWBQR) initiative, which evaluates 4G LTE and 5G network performance nationwide.

The tests were carried out along key routes in Abuja using Enextgen’s proprietary EMETRICS platform, combining field data from its Enextlog app with post-processing on AWS Cloud.

MTN Dominates Key Data Performance Indicators

According to the report, MTN consistently outperformed competitors across all major Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including throughput, latency, and internet access success rate.

Enextgen noted that MTN’s 5G network achieved an average packet latency of 79 milliseconds and an internet access success rate of 99.79%, the best among all tested networks.

In contrast, 9Mobile’s network experienced access issues during parts of the test, with connectivity dropping around 11:40 a.m., which significantly affected its overall performance metrics.

Voice Quality: MTN and 9Mobile Ahead

Voice call testing, covering 1,000 calls per operator, revealed that MTN and 9Mobile achieved the highest call setup success rates (CSSR) and lowest drop rates, while Airtel recorded the highest blocked call rate.

The report also highlighted that Globacom still relies on Circuit Switched Fallback (CSFB) for voice calls, an older technology that switches users from 4G to 2G or 3G for calls, often causing slower call setup and interrupted data sessions.

MTN, Airtel, and 9Mobile, however, use Voice over LTE (VoLTE), which delivers faster call connections and higher call quality.

Technical Evaluation and Broader Significance

The report’s measurements focused on signal quality parameters such as Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR), and Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ).

In these radio-frequency (RF) categories, MTN’s 5G network achieved the strongest results, with average RSRP at -86 dBm, RSRQ at -11 dB, and SINR of 12 dB, signaling a robust and well-optimized deployment.

Enextgen emphasized that such performance data helps operators identify coverage gaps, improve customer experience, and reduce reliance on foreign consultants for network optimization, a challenge that often delays fixes and raises operating costs for Nigerian telecoms.

“Our platform enables local operators to diagnose and address quality issues using indigenous expertise rather than waiting for expensive foreign interventions,” according to the report endorsed by Engr. Aderemi Adeyeye, the President/CEO of Enex Inc.

Enextgen and NIWBQR

Founded in 2016, Enextgen Wireless Limited specializes in mobile broadband quality monitoring and network benchmarking. Its NIWBQR program provides independent public reporting on mobile network quality across Nigeria, focusing on 4G LTE and emerging 5G networks.

Results and live dashboards from the study are publicly available here.

Conclusion

The Abuja benchmarking confirms MTN’s dominance in both 4G and 5G broadband quality, as well as its leadership in voice service reliability.

While Airtel and Glo showed moderate performance, 9Mobile’s connectivity lapses underscored the importance of consistent network maintenance and monitoring.

With 5G adoption expanding and competition intensifying, Enextgen’s independent evaluations provide a data-driven benchmark for improving mobile broadband quality, a crucial factor for Nigeria’s digital economy.

The post Enextgen Ranks MTN, Airtel Glo and 9mobile Mobile Broadband Quality in Abuja appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

This sixth edition of the capacity building session focused on two distinctive themes: “Storytelling: Embracing features in new media facilitated by Digital Strategist and Founder, Hybrid Tech, Adeoye-Wilson Kupolati, and Fake News: Uncovering the truth” facilitated by News Editor/Political Analyst, Kayode Ladeinde and both imparted on the participants significantly.

The Executive Director of Regulatory and Corporate Affairs at 9mobile, Abdulrahman Ado, represented by Chineze Amanfo, PR lead, 9mobile, while highlighting the importance of the themes, said, “Fake news is something that has become rampant in these times, making it more crucial to ask the question, how do we uncover fake news and separate the truth from mistruths? We are pleased that the facilitators for this training have the pedigree and experience to point us towards the right answers.”

Amanfo noted that the knowledge imparted to the participants during the training would aid them to work smarter and even create room for collaboration with their colleagues seamlessly and professionally.

She commended the journalists for their consistent participation in the training and said the session indeed lived up to the expectation.

Ladeinde, in his presentation, educated participants on identifying elements of fake news and its sources.

He shed more light on the negative impact fake news has had on society, admonishing media practitioners to be guided by the principles of the profession.

He said, “Breaking news remains an essential ingredient in the journalism business; a misleading piece of news can cause a big damage and ultimately break the brand you may have worked hard to build.”

Some platforms to verify fake news include ‘About this Result’, ‘Fact Check Search item’, and ‘Google Reverse Image Search. The easiest way to identify fake news is to subject the news headline or its keywords to Google search verification, Ladeinde added.

On his part, Kupolati highlighted the opportunities available on new media platforms due to a concentration of both old and new generations of audiences, with the latter experiencing substantial proliferation.

He said, “There are new ways through which audiences consume news today, and it is important to think about how the audience is evolving with new media and technology. The vast population these days is the new generation who consume new media, and the features on these new platforms have become attractive to the new audience.”

The 9mobile capacity building session is a quarterly training session to engage and train media professionals to improve their work.

The post 9mobile Media College Spotlights How to Fight Fake News appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

It wasn’t just another corporate launch, it was the unveiling of a bold new chapter for one of Nigeria’s most resilient telecom brands.

When the curtains lifted, 9mobile revealed its transformed identity, T2, “Tech Meets Tenacity.”

A statement not only about the company’s evolution, but also about Nigeria’s indomitable spirit in the face of change.

Representing Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. ’Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, captured the moment:

“This initiative resonates with Lagos’ vision of building a connected, competitive, and innovative city. Lagos is proof of what happens when vision meets hard work, and when technology meets tenacity.”

The Governor’s message was clear, Lagos is deliberately shaping itself as Nigeria’s innovation capital, from Smart City projects to digitised healthcare platforms, from LASRIC start-up funding to tech-driven education through Eko Excel. For Sanwo-Olu, 9mobile’s transformation was another milestone in a journey that Lagos is proud to champion.

But the night wasn’t only about Lagos. It was about Nigeria’s future.

“Technology alone is not enough,” Sanwo-Olu stressed. “It requires tenacity, the grit to refine, to improve, and to apply innovation in ways that make our country greater.”

Adding his voice, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, called the rebrand “a new beginning,” urging T2’s leadership to embrace excellence in service to millions whose livelihoods depend on their network.

For Mr. Obafemi Banigbe, CEO of 9mobile/T2, the brand’s rebirth was more than cosmetic, it was structural.

He announced that the network is evolving into a cloud-native, API-ready operation, built on data-driven solutions.

He also disclosed a national roaming agreement with MTN Nigeria, a move designed to expand coverage and optimise service delivery.

The hall brimmed with industry leaders, innovators, and partners, united by a sense of renewal. The 9mobile choir’s harmonies carried the spirit of resilience, an echo of the company’s journey from challenges to reinvention.

As the evening drew to a close, one message lingered: this was not just 9mobile’s transformation. It was a symbol of Nigeria’s determination to lead in innovation, powered by creativity, resilience, and an unshakable belief in the future.

The post Sanwo-Olu Hails 9mobile’s Bold Leap into the Future with T2 Identity appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

• Etisalat Nigeria (2008–2017): Entered the market with strong youth-focused branding and rapid growth, peaking at over 23 million subscribers.
• 9mobile (2017–2025): Rebranded after Etisalat Group exited due to $1.2 billion debt. Struggled with declining subscriber base, infrastructure decay, and ownership instability.
• T2 (2025): A bold rebrand under Lighthouse Telecoms, signaling a digital-first transformation with ambitions to become leaner, smarter, and more customer-centric.
• In July 2025 the NCC approved a three-year national roaming agreement between MTN Nigeria and 9mobile (now T2), enabling T2 subscribers to use MTN’s network while T2 rebuilds/optimises coverage.

Will the rebrand cause market disruption?

My quick response to that is that major disruptions are unlikely, but industry observers should expect transitional friction.

Why?

The MTN-9mobile (now T2) national-roaming pact, NCC-approved, significantly reduces the risk of mass service outages for customers, because subscribers can fall back onto MTN’s nationwide footprint while T2 stabilises.

That arrangement is explicitly meant to prevent service gaps.

Also, market disruption to competitors (Airtel, MTN, Glo) will be minimal in the near term because they already operate at much larger scale; any short-term customer movements will be incremental.

However, localized service quality issues, billing glitches, or porting/branding confusion could produce customer complaints and temporary churn. T2 must address these with immediate effect.

The bottom line is that the roaming deal blunts immediate disruption, but execution risk such as network fires, customer service breakdowns can still create noise and short-term churn.

Can T2 woo back 9mobile’s lost subscribers?

This is very possible. T2 is already perceived as vibrant, and the name appears forward-thinking. However, the porting of subscribers back to Ts won’t be automatic. They need reassurance of consistency of network availability. In fact, the handlers understand they need to do a lot of ‘give-away’ (incentives).

Key considerations:

Branding alone won’t bring customers back. Subscribers left for reasons like poor coverage, dropped calls, poor data speeds, perceived instability, and billing/customer care issues.

A new name helps perception, but must be paired with tangible improvements.

Coverage and quality are the primary determinants of return. With roaming on MTN, T2 can promise better immediate coverage, that’s necessary but not sufficient.

Offers and trust-building (transparent tariffs, no-bait billing, simple retention bundles, easy SIM/number porting) will be required to persuade users to return.

Therefore, T2 can win back some subscribers, especially price-sensitive or loyalty-ready segments, but regaining meaningful scale requires sustained investment and service reliability over 6–18 months.

Key areas T2 should major on to regain investor & subscriber confidence

Actionable priorities (short → medium → long term):

• Short term (0–3 months)

Service continuity & communication: Use the MTN roaming window to guarantee coverage and proactively communicate to customers what has changed and why – FAQs, SMS alerts, customer care hours.

Transparent migration plan: Clear timelines for network restoration, SIM provisioning, and any service interruptions. Transparency reduces panic and regulatory scrutiny.

Retention offers: Immediate, generous data/voice bundles for existing customers and port-back incentives for former subscribers.

• Medium term (3–12 months)

Network investment & O&M: Recommission towers, prioritise high-traffic corridors and cities, and publish KPIs including latency, speed, dropped-call rates. Investors watch CAPEX and operational metrics.

Customer experience overhaul: Improve billing systems, complaint resolution SLAs, and digital self-service options like apps, USSD.

Partnerships: Strengthen wholesale/roaming, content, and fintech partnerships to create sticky services, bundled VAS, payments, education, OTT partnerships.

• Long term (12–36 months)

Corporate governance & transparency: Publish audited accounts, board composition, and recovery milestones. The NCC and investors favour demonstrable governance improvement.

Product differentiation: Focus on niche segments – SMEs, youth, rural connectivity, rather than trying to replicate MTN’s full stack immediately. Bring back the ‘youth vibes’ of the Etisalat days – campus storms, etc.

Sustainable business model: Prove average revenue per user (ARPU) improvement and churn reduction while controlling opex. Investors need a credible turn-around plan with milestones; subscribers need reliable service and fair pricing.

Is this a sign of recovery for the telecoms sector?

Well, partly. The rebrand and roaming pact are signals of pragmatic consolidation and collaboration, not necessarily a broad-sector boom.

The roaming deal and the rebrand indicate industry actors and the regulator are working to avoid failures and preserve consumer service, a healthy sign for systemic stability.

Why cautious?

The sector still faces structural issues such as high spectrum costs, legacy debt, CAPEX demands, and rising operating costs.

A single operator stabilising or rebranding is encouraging, but broader recovery requires improved ARPUs, investment flows, and policy stability. Let the gains of the tariff adjustments go round.

Subscribers demand or deserve improved quality of service; the government is expecting higher taxes, and the shareholders hope to smile to the banks hence the operator, often treated as the sacrificial lamb, must be protected at all costs; without them, the whole system collapses and everyone goes hungry.

The NCC’s recent corporate governance push suggests regulators are tightening standards, both a necessary improvement and a challenge for weaker players.

What role will the NCC play in T2’s survival?

NCC’s role is central. My expected actions from the NCC are in three fronts:

Facilitator of operational continuity: Approving roaming to prevent service outages (already done).

Regulatory oversight & compliance enforcement: The NCC’s corporate governance guidelines and spectrum oversight require T2 to comply on reporting, operational integrity, and consumer protection; non-compliance could lead to sanctions or loss of privileges.

Market stability measures: The regulator can encourage industry collaboration (number pooling, shared infrastructure), mediate disputes (interconnect, roaming fees), and influence the environment for investor confidence (clear rules, predictable enforcement).

NCC’s posture will likely be supportive but watchful, approving short-term measures like roaming while insisting on governance and recovery milestones.

Is the roaming arrangement with MTN working out successfully?

I think early evidence is promising but incomplete. Reports suggest operational roaming is active in many areas; other commentary suggests 9mobile (now T2) base stations were not fully active at the time the deal took effect, which would make roaming essential.

Those reports are mixed and partly anecdotal.  What matters for “success” are seamless handoffs, consistent QoS, correct billing settlement, and clear customer communication.

If MTN and T2 resolve these without frequent dropped sessions or billing errors, the arrangement will be judged successful. If customers face degraded experience or confusing charges, the reputational damage could be high.

So, the framework is the right one and reduces immediate risk, but the real test will be operational KPIs and customers’ actual experience over the next 3–6 months.

Quick risk checklist: What to watch this quarter

• Clarity (or lack) on T2’s funding plan for CAPEX and debt servicing.
• MTN’s commercial terms. If roaming is priced poorly for T2, sustainability will be strained.

Recommended immediate communications/PR points for T2

With the rebranding comes more pressure on the communications team. Publish a one-page recovery timeline with measurable milestones.

Also run an SMS/call campaign explaining roaming, what customers should expect, and a helpline for issues.

Launch a “welcome back” package for former 9mobile, sorry T2, customers. Make it simple, no-surprises bundles.

Commit to monthly public KPI updates for three quarters – coverage %, average speeds, complaints resolved – to rebuild investor trust. Make sure your (accurate) data are updated on NCC’s Industry Statistics Page.

At the end, T2’s success hinges on execution, transparency, and innovation. If it can deliver a superior digital experience, rebuild trust, and stay lean, it could become Nigeria’s most agile telecom player. But the road is steep, and the market is unforgiving.

The post From Etisalat to 9mobile to T2: A Journey of Reinvention appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

Why? We’ve moved from basic browsing to Zoom calls, cloud workspaces, streaming platforms, and real-time trading apps, all of which burn data like kerosene.

Many users are now abandoning the traditional capped plans for “truly unlimited” bundles, especially in high-demand urban areas like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt. The telecom market is changing, and not all networks are keeping up.

So this week on Brand Comparison Thursday, we’ve gone beyond the advertising brochures to ask: Which Nigerian network actually provides the best data plans for browsing in 2025 – daily, weekly, and monthly? We looked beyond price, tested network speed, data efficiency, hidden terms, and feedback.

The Important Metrics?

Before diving into the numbers, let’s set the ground rules. These are the metrics we used to compare the networks:

• Price per GB – not the sticker price, but how much data you actually get per naira.
• Network quality – including download speed consistency, and downtime.
• Plan flexibility – ease of subscription, rollover options, app/USSD availability.
• Hidden terms – like night-only data, throttling, or social-only bundles.
• User reviews – social media complaints, Reddit feedback, Nairaland experiences.

The Networks

• MTN Nigeria – widely rated the fastest and most stable in 2025
• Airtel Nigeria – strong in streaming and urban coverage, usually second to MTN
• Glo Nigeria – known for bulk bundles but inconsistent speeds
• 9mobile – smallest footprint, frequent network downtime and unpopular packages in 2025

Daily Data Bundles (Up to 24‑Hour Validity)

Verdict: Airtel offers the best price-to-volume for light users, especially with occasional 2-day validity. 9mobile offers moderate flexibility thanks to the social bonus. Glo gives raw volume but suffers inconsistent speeds. MTN is costlier but most reliable in transit and load times. 

MTN and Airtel are ideal if you need quick streaming access. Glo? Only if you’re patient.

Weekly Data Bundles

Fine Print:

• MTN/Airtel don’t always rollover unless renewed before expiry.
• Glo’s data is usable full day.
• 9mobile plan only via a specific code (*312#).

Verdict: So, which offers the best data plans? Glo is unbeatable for basic value. Airtel’s bonuses give it more utility. MTN offers consistent reliability. 9mobile is limited both in volume and flexibility.

Monthly Bundles (30 Days)

Verdict: Glo wins on sheer GB count, but if your priority is function (streaming, cloud work, video calls), Airtel and MTN still give better user experience. 9mobile here offers no clear advantage.

Performance by Location

User Convenience & App Access

Network	App Quality	USSD Code	Rollover Support
MTN		*312#	Yes—early renewal rollover available
Airtel		*312#	Yes
Glo		*312#	Partial—some bundles rollover
9mobile		*312#	Rollover, but app and support weak

Data Efficiency in Practice

Conclusion: MTN transfers more content with less data thanks to fast loading and efficient compression. Airtel follows closely. Glo and 9mobile burn more data due to slow retransmissions under load.

Final Verdict: Best Data Plans by Use Case

Editor’s Take

If you only look at how much data a network gives you, you’ll probably think Glo is better. But if you factor in how usable that data is, how fast it loads, whether it works during rainstorms, and if you can stream without rage-quitting, MTN and Airtel are at the top.

For 2025, when considering the best plans, note that data isn’t about quantity anymore, but quality and reliability. Nigeria’s mobile users know this, which is why we’re seeing a shift away from deceptive big-number plans to actual browsing experience.

We’ve tested all four networks over the past month. Glo gave more data, MTN gave peace of mind.

The post Data Plans Compared: Which Network Offers the Best Bundle for Browsing? appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

The four largest MNOs in Nigeria are MTN Nigeria, Globacom, Airtel Nigeria, and 9mobile. And the report about the quality of LTE networks in Nigeria is coming on the heels of a report by TechEconomy.ng on top 20 ISPs in Nigeria. Incidentally, some of the ISPs functions are internet service resellers for the large MNOs.

The importance of independent monitoring

“We cannot continue to depend on government for things we can do for ourselves, when it is obvious that the government is very busy.

Unbelievable as it may seem, our ancestors existed within the borders of Nigeria before the first British person stepped foot on this land. In other words, we owned the land.

Now, we have our interaction with the British and 20/20 hindsight to thank for reminding us that we were one people for whom it is never too late.

We have given up a lot. In return, we have received only the type of comfort that numbs the pain of giving up self-worth.

We are now left with no choice but to rely on a system created to denigrate our value and deny us reverence for our ancestry. This affects us all.

The only solution is to learn to look after one another. We cannot blame the government for making us sick when we wait for its permission to breathe despite having access to free air.

These words summed up the feelings of experts at Enextgen Wireless following their discoveries overtime on the quality of 4G LTE deployed by the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Nigeria.

The experts’ verdict is that the quality of LTE networks in Nigeria is not good. They will tell you why:

According to latest report by Enextgen Wireless, the situation gets worse in areas where it is needed the most.

“We have monitored it since 2016, two years after the first LTE network was deployed (by Smile) in Ibadan. We have been sharing our reports on the quality of the networks with the operators ever since.

“We have shared information about our efforts with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). We have incorporated their recommendations into our platform meant to address the very unique nature of the need of a country the size of Nigeria with a growing population of people seemingly programmed to believe that it is normal to celebrate independence without learning how they came to be dependent”.

“NCC collects quality metrics for 2G and 3G networks from network operators and publish them on its website. While the majority of Nigerians are not likely to visit the NCC website for the purpose of reviewing these metrics, at least the metrics are there.

“The NCC doesn’t even seem to acknowledge the existence of LTE as a unique 3GPP mobile communication standard, let alone publish performance metrics for the networks that are based on the standard”, says the company led by Engineer Aderemi Adeyeye.

“We have gone steps further. We have created a platform for collecting quality data from the mobile networks as seen by our devices and making them available to the general public. We have professional logging tools that cost tens of thousands of dollars each for our test configuration.

“However, our mobile application data collection tool makes it possible to simultaneously collect meaningful logs everywhere there is LTE coverage.

“As the data collected using this tool is detailed enough for salient performance optimization activities, in addition to being used to create the reports, our data can be used by the network operators to improve the quality of their networks even though they are not required to do so. It can also be used for benchmarking (even by the NCC) and many other purposes.

The revealed that its purpose and data are different than those of global performance monitoring and benchmarking services such as provided by Ookla, Open Signal, Rootmetrics, Teleworld Services, Nperf, GSMA, etc.

“We focus on the unique Nigerian, not global, problem. We rely on the mobile LTE networks for our own daily business operation, as such have similar interest to ordinary human beings and small businesses in Nigeria in seeing the quality improved”.

In the following slides, they showed areas that they currently have data for.

“Cooperation of the MNOs would facilitate access to data for the rest of the country. We will make our data collection tool available at nominal fee. In return, the public will have visibility into the quality of LTE networks and the MNOs will have access to data for quality monitoring and improvement. While Core Network monitoring and observation tools are essential, they are no substitute for end-user experience that our logs provide visibility into”.

Public access to the network quality data is available via its website while special access to the network quality for MNOs is available, by request via this platform.

MTN should improve 4G LTE quality in Yaba where high quantities of packet loss create unreliable internet connectivity.

Snapshots from Christmas Day:

Captured data from various parts of the country on Christmas day

• Quality issues include
  • RRC Connection Failures
  • Radio Link Failures
  • Packet loss
  • Large packet delays
• Our UE logs provide additional insight into these issues.

• UE traveled north to south. PCI 485 served while PCI 483 was stronger. Issue could be due to missing neighbor relationship definition or failed or missing handoff attempt.
• More detailed analysis is possible with sector information overlaid.

Improving the packet latency in this major business district will result in improved productivity for businesses that rely on reliable, affordable internet connectivity. Though RF quality can be improved, it is good enough. Uplink and downlink throughputs are adequate.

(NB: MTN LTE offers us the best service in this area. Packet latencies in the other networks are higher. Furthermore, MTN RF quality (Emetrics) is higher than that of Airtel or Glo).

Improving the packet latency in this major business district will result in improved productivity for businesses that rely on reliable, affordable internet connectivity. RF quality also needs improvement.

Improving the packet latency in this major business district will result in improved productivity for businesses that rely on reliable, affordable internet connectivity. RF quality also needs improvement.

This is an example where there were no echo returns to ping packets sent to IP address 8.8.8.8.

No echo returns from the identified hex bins from Google DNS Server (8.8.8.8). We experienced packet loss in each of the bins while none of them had poor RF quality.

RF quality is good. However, UE was not able to reach the internet due to packet loss.

Concluding remarks:

LTE networks (operators) in Nigeria have access to a unique asset

• Cost-free access to real user-experience information.
• Experience-based classification of network quality supplemented with real measured values to facilitate quality improvement.
• Opportunity to improve customer experience without additional investment.

Some key benefits of this asset.

• It helps offer value for the money paid by customers without reducing the allure of doing business in an environment with scant expectation of value.
• It supports government’s professed effort to encourage participation of small indigenous enterprises in meaningful telecom engineering activities.
• The resulting opportunity for interested MNOs to claim support for government initiative should make up for anticipated dent in reputation when value is offered to perceived undeserving customers.

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The service suspension stemmed from NIMC’s migration to NINAuth, a more secure digital identity platform for verifying National Identity Numbers (NINs) during SIM registration and related services.

By the weekend of July 21–22, 2025, MTN and Airtel confirmed service restoration via social media, assuring users that NIMC’s portal was back online. Glo and 9mobile are expected to follow suit shortly.

The restoration brings relief to millions affected by the outage, especially users needing SIM replacements or new lines. It also highlights the growing importance of seamless digital ID integration in Nigeria’s telecom sector.

With services stabilizing, telcos are urging customers facing residual issues to visit their nearest service centers.

The episode underscores the need for stronger coordination among regulators and operators to avoid future service disruptions during system upgrades.

The post Telcos Resume SIM Services as NIMC Concludes NINAuth Migration appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.