The idea of fast, unlimited, wired broadband arriving at the door, like it does in London or Seoul, has felt like a distant dream.

MTN FibreX is trying to change that story. Rebranded and relaunched in April 2025, it has grown from a quiet niche product into Nigeria’s dominant fixed broadband service in less than twelve months. As of February 2026, FibreX holds approximately 88.7% of Nigeria’s entire fixed broadband market.

The Numbers So far:

“Our goal is clear, between 2026 and 2028, we want FibreX to reach over 8 million homes across Nigeria. This is about empowering people to connect and thrive in the digital economy.” — Egerton Idehen, Chief Broadband Officer, MTN Nigeria.

What Exactly is MTN FibreX?

FibreX is MTN Nigeria’s fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband service. Physical fibre-optic cables are run directly into your home or business, delivering internet speeds that a mobile SIM card simply cannot match, with no data cap, no throttling, and no Fair Usage Policy (FUP) hidden in the fine print.

The service was formerly known as MTN Fibre Broadband and existed quietly for nearly a decade with very modest adoption, ranging between 2,000 and 9,000 users at any given time.

The April 2025 rebrand to FibreX coincided with aggressive expansion, a more competitive pricing structure, and a clear strategic mandate: become Nigeria’s largest FTTH operator, by a wide margin.

It’s working. By January 2026, FibreX had 89,441 subscribers, a 658% jump from 11,794 in January 2025. The biggest single-month surge came in September 2025, when the service added 16,640 new users (a 56.8% month-on-month jump). The highest recorded monthly increase since MTN started the service nearly 10 years ago.

The Plans: What You Pay, What You Get

Plans in 2026 range from ₦30,000/month to ₦200,000/month, covering speeds of 50 Mbps to 1GB. All plans are fully unlimited with no speed throttling. The router is provided free-to-use, and installation is free in covered areas. All plans also offer symmetrical upload and download speeds.

The Honest Verdict: Pros & Cons

The Upsides

Areas of concern: 

FibreX vs Starlink vs Spectranet

The honest take from multiple reviewers in early 2026 is consistent: if FibreX cable (over-the-air) has been laid on your street, it is the most cost-effective unlimited home internet option available in Nigeria today.

The challenge remains coverage, Starlink still wins where fibre hasn’t reached, but it costs more than four times as much in the first year when you factor in the hardware kit.

The Elephant In the Room: 9,218 Fibre Cuts

Here is where we have to be straight with you. MTN FibreX has a reliability problem, and it’s not entirely MTN’s fault, but it is MTN’s problem to solve.

In 2025, MTN recorded 9,218 fibre cable cuts across Nigeria, averaging more than 25 per day. Road construction crews sliced through buried cables. Vandals targeted infrastructure.

Cable thieves did what cable thieves do. The result: customers experienced outages that lasted hours, sometimes days, with sparse communication from the company during the downtime.

“For the past three days, the MTN FibreX network has been absolutely terrible, unstable connection, frequent downtimes, and speeds nowhere near what was promised. It’s been oversold.” – Nnamdi Nwabuisi, MD, Nikenga.com (via LinkedIn)

Dr. Karl Toriola, MTN’s CEO publicly acknowledged the issue and pledged accountability. But acknowledgement alone doesn’t restore the connection of a remote worker on a deadline.

The company logged over 1.6 million customer complaints through its service channels in 2025, a figure that should sit uncomfortably in every board review.

This is arguably the biggest risk to FibreX’s growth trajectory. Nigeria needs better legislation to protect buried or ‘over-the-air’ infrastructure, stronger penalties for vandalism, and better coordination between telecoms operators and road construction authorities. Until that systemic fix arrives, no amount of cable-laying will fully solve the outage problem.

Who is FibreX Actually for?

The Big Picture: What this Means for Nigeria

FibreX is not just a product launch. It’s a bet on a different version of Nigeria’s digital future, one where home broadband is as normal as owning a TV.

Nigeria’s broadband penetration reached 53.07% by January 2026, up from 45.61% a year earlier. But the vast majority of that is mobile broadband.

Fixed wired connections remain a rounding error compared to 104 million mobile broadband subscriptions.

MTN’s ambition to connect 8 million homes by 2028, a 160-fold increase from current levels, is the kind of infrastructure push that, if achieved, would fundamentally reshape how Nigerian families work, learn, and create.

It aligns directly with the National Broadband Plan’s target of 70% broadband penetration and the expansion of Nigeria’s fibre backbone from 35,000 km to 125,000 km.

But a 160-fold increase is a massive ask. Today’s 110,564 FibreX subscribers are impressive as a growth story. As a fraction of 8 million homes, it is 1.4%.

The distance between here and there requires capital (MTN spent ₦1 trillion in capex in 2025, much of it on fibre), policy support, and, critically, a resolution to the vandalism and fibre-cut crisis that is simultaneously the biggest operational headache and the most persistent threat to consumer trust.

“We are going to be, by a country mile, the largest fibre-to-the-home operator, and we’ll also eventually provide redundancy solutions where you have a combination of fibre and fixed wireless access so that at no point in time do you ever experience any outage.” — Dr. Karl Toriola, CEO, MTN Nigeria

The Bottom Line

MTN FibreX is the most compelling home broadband option in Nigeria if it has reached your street. The pricing is genuinely competitive, ₦30,000 a month for unlimited 50 Mbps, with free installation and a free router, is hard to argue with.

The speed tiers cover every use case from a student’s bedroom to a small business office. And the absence of data caps or throttling removes the daily anxiety that defines Nigeria’s mobile data experience.

The caveats are real, though. The fibre-cut problem is not cosmetic, it is a structural weakness in Nigeria’s physical infrastructure that no single company can fix alone.

The coverage map still leaves most of the country unserved. And new subscribers need to budget at least ₦30,000/month from day one.

But the direction of travel is unmistakably right. The 658% subscriber growth in a single year reflects genuine product-market fit. The 8-million-home ambition, if even 30% is achieved by 2028, would represent a qualitative shift in how millions of Nigerians experience the internet.

For too long, home internet or braodband in Nigeria has meant rationed megabytes and a hotspot shared across six devices. FibreX isn’t the finished article. But it might just be the first believable step toward something better.

Overall Rating

According to a Punch report, Legend Internet disclosed the proposed merger in a regulatory filing with the Nigerian Exchange Limited, noting that the transaction remains subject to approvals from the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

If approved, the deal, expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2026, will combine Legend’s fibre-to-the-home infrastructure with Spectranet’s 4G LTE and fibre services, creating a more robust broadband network with improved efficiency and wider urban coverage.

The companies said the merger aligns with Legend Internet’s long-term strategy to deepen broadband infrastructure and strengthen its footprint in Nigeria’s fast-evolving digital economy.

While financial details of the transaction were not disclosed, the integration is expected to enhance service quality, expand connectivity options, and drive operational synergies across both networks.

Legend Internet, which listed on the NGX in 2025 to fund nationwide expansion, has rapidly grown its fibre network, while Spectranet remains a key player in Nigeria’s fixed wireless broadband segment, known for its 4G LTE services and data offerings.

The companies said they will continue to keep the market informed as the merger process progresses.

Let’s take a look at some companies in charge of this space; FibreOne and Spectranet, two giants of Nigeria’s ISP sector with radically different philosophies. 

One is building a fixed fibre network from the ground up, the other is surfing the LTE airwaves with mobile routers and data caps. But when we stripped away the marketing tactics and looked at the real numbers, the gap was startling.

By Q1 2025, FibreOne’s subscriber base had plummeted by 42.4%, down from 33,010 to just 19,000, a collapse that says even fibre fans are switching lanes. 

Meanwhile, Spectranet tried to hold its ground with over 103,000 active users, barely flinching with a 2% dip. FibreOne claims to have bounced back to over 60,000 subscribers by June, but the damage to confidence, and public perception, may take longer to repair.

Beyond a product comparison, this is a clash of philosophies. Do you want unthrottled speed in a few neighbourhoods, or portable flexibility that slows down the more you use it? It’s not limited to who’s faster, but who’s failing you less.

Market Footprint and Subscriber Strength

Let’s start with reach, because where you live still determines the kind of internet you get.

FibreOne, Nigeria’s largest fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) provider, operates in just 12 Points of Presence (POP)—mainly in high-density zones of Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Ilorin. 

As of Q1 2025, its NCC-reported subscriber base dropped by 42.4%, from 33,010 to 19,000, largely due to economic challenges and high competition from mobile broadband. 

However, internal sources reveal a strong rebound, pushing active subscribers back up to 60,000+ by the end of June 2025.

By contrast, Spectranet tops the wireless broadband market, operating in 641 POPs and maintaining a subscriber base of 103,252, the largest among ISPs in Nigeria. 

Its model thrives on mobility and 4G LTE flexibility, although it also reports a minor 2.08% dip in active users from the previous quarter. While FibreOne fights for the top spot in fibre-rich urban pockets, Spectranet wins on footprint and presence.

Technology and Infrastructure

FibreOne runs exclusively on optical fibre, delivering high-capacity FTTH connectivity. This enables users to enjoy unthrottled, low-latency internet, a major edge for gamers, streamers, remote workers, and SMEs. It is not mobile, but it’s powerful where available.

Spectranet takes a different approach. Its 4G LTE service offers plug-and-play internet via MiFi, routers, car Wi-Fi, and outdoor modems. While speed depends on network congestion and signal strength, the ease of setup and wide range of devices make it ideal for people who are always on the move—or outside fibre coverage zones.

Bottom line?

• FibreOne offers speed and stability.
• Spectranet delivers flexibility and convenience.
  Your needs define your winner here.

Speed, Performance and Data Integrity

On pure performance, FibreOne takes the lead. Users frequently commend its consistent speeds, especially for data-intensive tasks. Its infrastructure supports up to 500 Mbps, truly unlimited with zero data caps or throttling.

Spectranet, though versatile, enforces a Fair Usage Policy (FUP). Speeds are reduced after data thresholds, typically 125GB, with post-FUP speeds dropping to 512kbps. This can be frustrating for users who consume large volumes of data.

Still, Spectranet performs respectably in urban areas, particularly where fibre has not yet reached. However, speed is dependent on environmental factors: weather, congestion, and signal strength.

Pricing and Affordability

Let’s talk naira and kobo.

• FibreOne plans start from ₦13,807/month for 25 Mbps. These are truly unlimited, no throttling or surprises. It’s best for homes or offices with multiple heavy users.
• Spectranet’s plans begin around ₦18,999/month, but include data caps. Once you hit the FUP limit, your browsing speed slows significantly. However, its flexible device options, MiFis, routers, car Wi-Fi, offer portability.

For users who want predictability and value, FibreOne’s pricing wins. For those who need on-the-go access, Spectranet’s hardware options justify the price.

Customer Service and User Experience

Neither brand is perfect here.

FibreOne earns applaud for its installation professionalism and consistent speeds. However, many users complain about slow customer support, installation delays, and infrastructure-related outages. Accusations of unfulfilled promises have dented its integrity in certain circles.

Spectranet, on the other hand, gets high marks for device support, service availability, and customer experience within LTE zones. Yet, it also faces complaint, mostly for its speed throttling and lack of transparency around FUP limits.

FibreOne ranked #1 in customer satisfaction in the 2024 NCSI survey, while Spectranet swept awards for “Most Reliable ISP” and “User-Friendly Brand” at NiTA 2024. In essence, users trust FibreOne’s speed, but expect better service. Spectranet users expect average speed, but trust the experience.

Value-Added Services and Differentiators

Spectranet’s strength is variety:

• MiFi devices for mobile users
• CarFi for internet on the go
• Home routers and VoLTE combos
• Parental controls, URL filters, and app-based monitoring

FibreOne’s value lies in infrastructure:

• Unlimited fibre plans (25–500 Mbps)
• Custom SME and enterprise packages with SLAs
• On-site installation, premium support
• Future-ready for 4K streaming, low-latency gaming, and remote work

If you value hardware-based mobility, Spectranet gives you the tools. If you value performance and depth, FibreOne is the infrastructure play.

Reputation, Recognition, and Resilience

FibreOne was recognised by the NCC in Q4 2023 as Nigeria’s top FTTH provider, featured at GITEX Africa 2025, and commended for supporting the 3MTT initiative. However, its Q1 2025 subscriber decline led to questions about long-term sustainability in the face of mobile broadband competition.

Spectranet, meanwhile, wears its awards like armour. From ISP of the Year (2025) to Broadband Leader and Most Reliable ISP, its reputation is market-tested and customer-backed. It has scaled by being agile, reliable, and affordable for a wider audience.

Summary: Side-by-Side Comparison

So… FibreOne or Spectranet?

If you need unlimited, stable, high-speed internet for work, business, or entertainment, and you live in one of the covered zones, FibreOne is the clear winner. It’s fast, cost-effective, and future-ready.

But if you need flexible, portable internet access with a variety of device options and broader national reach, Spectranet remains a reliable alternative, just watch your data consumption.

In the end, both providers are fighting different battles in the same war: FibreOne is building the roads, Spectranet is selling the cars. Your choice depends on what kind of journey you’re on.

This is the steepest decline among Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the country, pointing to the widening gap between the promises of broadband expansion and the challenging market realities these providers face.

Between Q3 2024 and Q1 2025, FibreOne’s subscriber base fell from 33,010 to just over 19,000, according to data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). 

This happened as ISPs collectively shed over 18,000 users and 18 companies exited the market. While Starlink declined by 9% and Spectranet by 2.08%, FibreOne’s near-collapse stands out.

Several forces converged to drive this drop, chief among them being Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions. A 50% increase in telecom tariffs approved in February 2025, coupled with rising diesel prices, FX imbalance, and expensive infrastructure, has pushed fixed broadband beyond the reach of many households and businesses. For FibreOne and others, this has turned retention into an uphill battle.

Mobile networks, meanwhile, have stayed untouched. MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile collectively hold over 141.9 million internet users as of April 2025. Their edge? Affordability, accessibility, and increasing forays into Fibre to the Home (FTTH), where they’re now challenging traditional ISPs with flexible pricing and wider reach.

But FibreOne’s downfall exposes a lack of strategy, poor adaptability, and the absence of policy support. Telecom analyst Jide Awe told TechCabal: “ISPs like FibreOne are feeling the full weight of Nigeria’s economic realities.”

Awe believes there’s still a path forward if ISPs adapt. “They should consider bundling services, target underserved sectors like education and healthcare, and invest in solar solutions to cut operating costs,” he said.

FibreOne is not alone in this struggle, but it may be the most visible casualty of an ecosystem in retreat. While mobile data has become the default for most Nigerians, the downside is becoming more obvious, mobile internet cannot handle the demands of e-learning, telemedicine, enterprise networking, or institutional-scale connectivity.

Diseye Isoun, CEO of Content Oasis, offered a more structural critique: “At the end of the day, ISPs are treated as peripheral, but they are critical to the broadband ecosystem—especially for schools, hospitals, and local businesses. What’s missing is policy—not just investment—that ensures ISPs can serve strategic access points.”

Isoun advocates a model inspired by Brazil’s Telebras—government-backed partnerships with vetted ISPs to guarantee broadband in priority sectors. It’s a contrast to Nigeria’s market-driven approach, which continues to choke out smaller ISPs and leaves critical institutions under-connected.

The data reflects this squeeze. In Q4 2023, Nigeria had 252 licensed ISPs; only 106 were active. By Q1 2025, licensed ISPs had dropped to 234, with just 127 operational. The gap between those with licences and those who can afford to stay in business is increasing.

The situation with Starlink further complicates matters. Initially celebrated as a game-changer for remote connectivity, Starlink has faced underwhelming adoption. Its monthly fees rose from ₦38,000 to ₦57,000 in early 2025, pricing out average users. 

A Starlink retailer confirmed the retreat: “Many Nigerians are cutting down on their subscriptions. I know a couple of people who have scaled down on the subs.”

As the broadband market thins out, what remains is a fragmented sector, over-reliant on mobile operators, with serious implications for national digital capacity.

Nnamdi Richards, a telecom expert, suggested structural reform: “We may need a solution similar to what was done with the banking sector: mergers, acquisitions, IPOs, SEC listings. That could help stabilise some of them financially.”

He also pointed to seasonal risks ISPs now face: “We’re in the rainy season now, and lightning strikes and flooded communities. This is a nightmare for small ISPs without the capacity to cope.”

Without urgent reforms, strategic partnerships, and smarter pricing, Nigeria risks sidelining an important pillar of its digital sustainability.

New data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) shows that 38 ISPs lost over 18,000 customers between Q3 2024 and Q1 2025, revealing the high cost pressures on households and businesses.

Starlink, the second-largest ISP in Nigeria and widely considered a premium option, suffered a significant drop. Its customer base fell by over 6,000; from 65,564 to 59,509. 

Spectranet, the oldest and largest in the sector, shed 2,189 subscribers, while FibreOne, once the third-biggest ISP by user count, recorded the steepest fall, losing more than 14,000 customers.

These numbers may look small in isolation, but in the bigger market space, they reveal a shrinking space for ISPs. 

While ISPs serve fewer than 300,000 users collectively, Nigeria’s mobile network operators (MNOs), MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile, command over 141 million active internet subscriptions. That’s more than 99.8% of the market, and the gap is widening.

Why are users walking away? One clear reason is expenses. In February, the NCC approved a 50% increase in voice and data tariffs across all operators. Starlink soon followed, raising its monthly price from ₦38,000 to ₦57,000 by April. 

In contrast, broadband plans from mobile networks remained relatively affordable, making it a no-brainer for many to switch.

Jide Awe, a technology policy expert and founder of Jidaw.com, links the decline directly to the economic challenges. He told Nairametrics that “The rising costs of data, equipment, and power supply mean many families and small businesses have to cut costs and focus strictly on essentials. Maintaining subscriptions isn’t as much of a priority for many. Starlink, in particular, is more expensive in terms of device and subscription costs.”

Beyond price, MNOs have now muscled into the fibre broadband space, once a core domain for fixed-line ISPs. MTN and Airtel, for instance, are aggressively rolling out Fibre to the Home (FTTH) services, directly competing with traditional ISPs, and with more resources and deeper infrastructure reach.

“I don’t think this is fair to the smaller operators (the ISPs),” said Tony Emoekpere, President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON). He also pointed to the tariff hike and the massive disparity in market share as additional issues.

It’s not just competition or cost. Operational realities are difficult for ISPs. Running diesel-powered infrastructure in a country with unstable power supply eats into profits. International bandwidth is so expensive, Right of Way (RoW) fees and multiple taxes in different states further drain resources. Urban areas suffer frequent cable vandalism and theft, slowing down service and customer confidence.

Of the 234 licensed ISPs in Nigeria, only 127 had any active users in Q1 2025. Many operate in survival mode, with no clear path to scale. Meanwhile, mobile networks are doing better, buoyed by reach, convenience, and price flexibility.

So what’s next for ISPs?

Awe believes the current model has run its course. “The ISPs should explore the provision of tailored services for SMEs, real estate, health, and education. With strategic planning, they can further digital transformation within sectors and across industries. In this regard, it is advisable to collaborate with agile, tech-savvy SMEs and startups to drive innovation.”

He also advises them to adopt bundled service models and reduce operating costs by investing in solar energy and local alternatives. Improving customer service, reliability, and delivering niche solutions could also help claw back market relevance.

But beyond business tweaks, many operators say the rules of the game need to change. NCC and policymakers need to create a level playing field that doesn’t leave fixed ISPs to fend for themselves against the Goliaths of the telecom industry.

Without regulatory support and an updated broadband strategy, Nigeria could end up with fewer ISPs, and even fewer real broadband choices.

At the 2025 Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit & Leadership Award (ABoICT 2025), held over the weekend in Lagos, Professor Adewale Peter Obadare, Chief Visionary Officer of Digital Encode, and Amrich Singhal, Chief Operating Officer of Spectranet, independently but powerfully echoed the same sentiment: AI without governance is a ticking time bomb.

Delivering his keynote on “AI Governance, Standardization and Cybersecurity in the AI Era,” Prof. Obadare warned against the rising trend of “AI washing”—where companies label basic software or services as “AI” to capitalize on hype, often without the underlying technological integrity or oversight.

“People are calling everything AI today, from photography apps to basic automation, but no one is talking about AI governance,” he said.

Drawing comparisons to the early days of the internet, Obadare cautioned that failing to integrate security and governance into AI architecture could lead to far-reaching consequences. “We are repeating the same mistake we made with TCP/IP, which was not built with cybersecurity in mind. We cannot afford to make that error again.”

He emphasized that governance should not be seen as a hindrance but as an enabler of safe innovation. “Governance is not a brake to stop movement; it is a brake to make movement safe,” he said.

Citing international standards like ISO/IEC 42001 and ISO/IEC 38507, Obadare called for responsible innovation grounded in clear ethical guidelines, stressing the importance of securing the core components of AI: data, models, and infrastructure.

Echoing similar concerns at ABoICT 2025, Amrich Singhal, chief operating officer, Spectranet in his presentation themed “Responsible AI and Nigeria: Balancing Innovation, Regulation, and Cybersecurity,” stressed that “the countries that will benefit most from AI are not necessarily those with the most powerful models, but those with the most trusted systems.”

Singhal painted AI as a double-edged sword, capable of boosting national productivity while also enabling new forms of cyber manipulation—from deepfakes to identity theft and disinformation. “AI can clone voices, create fake personas, and even undermine democracy. It’s no longer a question of readiness, it’s a question of urgency,” he declared.

He acknowledged Nigeria’s potential due to its youthful, tech-savvy population and its expanding use of AI across sectors like healthcare, agriculture, education, and oil exploration.

However, he criticized existing regulatory structures such as the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) and NITDA’s 2023 draft AI framework as being “underdeveloped, underfunded, and poorly enforced.”

Both experts called for a multi-stakeholder approach to AI governance. Prof. Obadare warned of real-world failures, such as Microsoft’s racist chatbot Tay, Amazon’s gender-biased recruitment AI, and Uber’s fatal autonomous vehicle incident, not as tech failures, but as governance failures.

He also cited cybersecurity breaches, including the 2023 hacking of OpenAI’s ChatGPT and the leak of DeepSeek’s API keys and user data on launch day, to stress that “the danger is not just in the algorithms, but in how we design and deploy them.”

Singhal proposed a three-tiered strategy to build Nigeria’s AI resilience: government must champion AI education, create safe innovation sandboxes, and enforce data laws; private companies must adopt ethical and secure design practices; and civil society must raise awareness of digital rights and AI risks—especially for vulnerable populations.

In a firm conclusion, Prof. Obadare urged that “governance must be embedded by design,” warning that irresponsible innovation has already proven costly and called on both developers and policymakers to act before Nigeria’s AI future becomes a liability rather than a strength.

Meanwhile, Singhal closed with a stark challenge: “AI is already here. The question is not whether to use it, but how. Nigeria must choose whether AI will be a great equalizer or its greatest vulnerability.”

As the nation moves deeper into the AI era, the message is clear: building trust, enforcing cybersecurity, and embedding responsible governance must be at the core of Nigeria’s AI journey, before it’s too late.

According to the latest data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for Q4 2024, Starlink now has 65,564 active subscribers, overtaking FiberOne, which recorded 33,010 subscribers.

Since it entered the Nigerian market in early 2023, Starlink has been growing fast, offering high-speed satellite-based broadband to users in both urban and underserved rural areas. 

Unlike traditional ISPs reliant on fibre optics and wireless networks, Starlink’s low-Earth orbit satellite technology provides nationwide coverage, including remote locations where other providers struggle with connectivity issues.

Even with its premium pricing, Starlink’s user base more than doubled within a year, increasing from 23,897 subscribers in 2023 to 65,564 by the end of 2024. 

This surge points to the level of demand for high-speed, reliable connectivity, particularly in areas underserved by traditional ISPs. 

Starlink offers speeds of up to 250 Mbps, far outpacing the offerings of most local ISPs that rely on fibre optics and wireless networks.

Spectranet, which operates on fibre and terrestrial wireless networks, is Nigeria’s largest ISP with 105,441 subscribers, despite losing 8,428 users over the past year. 

Its subscriber base declined from 113,869 at the end of 2023 to 105,441 in Q3 2024, with no further changes in Q4. 

Unlike Starlink’s satellite-based model, Spectranet and other traditional ISPs must pay right-of-way fees, tower installations, and power infrastructure costs, making expansion slower and more expensive.

Other ISPs in Nigeria include Tizeti Networks, with 18,881 subscribers; ipNX Nigeria, serving 16,166 subscribers; and VDT Communications, catering to 6,307 subscribers.

Starlink’s success comes as consumer complaints about the poor internet quality provided by mobile network operators and ISPs are on the high side.

Unlike its competitors, Starlink expands its satellite network globally, improving speeds, reducing latency, and enhancing service reliability. As of February 2025, SpaceX had launched 8,039 Starlink satellites, with 7,082 still in orbit and 7,049 fully operational.

“As far as them (Starlink) being the second-largest ISP now, it makes sense,” said Ladi Okuneye, CEO of UniCloud, an ISP. “Satellite technology’s ubiquitous nature means you can connect a customer today in Ikoyi and another in Ikot Ekpene without being restricted by the geographical limitations of fibre or terrestrial wireless solutions.”

While MTN Nigeria is still at the top in the broadband space, the emergence of Starlink as the second-largest ISP shows a change in consumer preference, particularly for users seeking fast and reliable internet access without the infrastructure limitations of terrestrial networks.

In December 2024, Starlink announced a steep price hike, doubling its monthly subscription fee from ₦38,000 to ₦75,000 for new customers. Existing users were expected to transition to the new pricing by January 27, 2025. However, due to surging demand, Starlink put the tariff adjustment on hold.

This wasn’t the first time Starlink faced pricing challenges in Nigeria. In October 2024, the NCC blocked a previous attempt to raise tariffs, saying the company had not followed the proper regulatory procedures. 

The NCC later approved the hike on February 4, 2025, allowing telecom operators to adjust their prices. However, while MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, and Smile Communications have increased their prices, Starlink has yet to implement the increase.

Despite its growth, Starlink still faces limitations. Currently, subscribers can only use the service in a fixed location, which means mobile users cannot stay connected on the move. In 2024, Starlink began rolling out satellite-to-phone connectivity to eliminate mobile dead zones, but this service has not yet reached Africa.

The adoption of Starlink accentuates a growing demand for premium, high-speed internet services in Nigeria. While traditional ISPs continue to invest in expanding their fibre infrastructure, Starlink’s satellite model offers a flexible alternative, particularly in regions where fibre rollout is slow or economically unfeasible.

However, affordability is still a critical challenge—Starlink’s service, priced at over ₦400,000 for the hardware and a monthly subscription fee that could rise to ₦75,000, is way higher than traditional ISPs. This has limited its adoption to high-income users, businesses, and remote areas where alternatives are scarce.

During the product launch at Spectranet’s Ikeja Head Office, this latest product offering – Spectranet Witel, was described as the All in One Magic Box – a Portable Wireless Desk Phone acting as an internet modem and a desk phone.

During the demonstration of the product, Mr. Nommy Paul, CTO at Spectranet Limited, mentioned that one of the most significant features of the VOLTE-powered Witel desk phone is the distinct high-definition voice call. “The most noticeable benefit consumers will experience with Witel is an improved voice quality during calls made from Spectranet WITEL Desk Phone to other networks”.

Each Witel desk phone comes with a Dedicated 7-digit landline number unique to its owner.

The phone has a host of other features like – Quick dial facility for kids, an Internet connection for up to 10 devices, an Inbuilt battery with up to 4 hours standby time and a Phone book that can store up to 800 contacts.

Witel Desk Phones will benefit families with kids and the elderly at home. Asides from providing WiFi connectivity to the entire family, the desk phone will enable them to make calls effortlessly using the Quick Dial facility.

The unique landline line number will enable small and medium businesses like restaurants, beauty salons, and advertising agencies and traders to publish this number as a permanent number for customers to call. While also using the inbuilt internet modem to provide internet connectivity for their staff.

Speaking during the launch of WiTel, Mr Ajay Awasthi, Chief Executive Officer of Spectranet, said that the launch of WiTel is a significant step for the company, as the introduction of the product is the first of its kind in the Nigerian market. “We expect WiTel to enable various businesses to create an identity for themselves with the unique seven (7) digit landline number and help increase customer call-ins.”

He added that WiTel is a must-own and a go-to gadget for families with working parents and younger kids at home.

This will help them stay connected to the kids when they are back home from school.

He concluded that the combination of voice and data in one device is now the new normal, and this will be of great advantage to subscribers who intend to reduce call and data costs for their homes and businesses.

According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC’s) industry statistics, the total number of connected subscribers reached three hundred and fifty-one thousand, eight hundred and seventeen (351,817).

An Internet service provider (ISP) is an organisation that provides services for accessing, using, or participating in the Internet.

Internet service providers can be organised in various forms, such as commercial, community-owned, non-profit, or otherwise privately owned.

Internet services typically provided by ISPs can include Internet access, Internet transit, domain name registration, web hosting, Usenet service, and colocation.

An ISP typically serves as the access point or the gateway that provides a user, access to everything available on the Internet.

TechEconomy.ng Intelligence Unit’s findings show the total number of active subscribers by the ISPs increased to one hundred and ninety-eight thousand and ninety (198,090) which is thirty thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine (30,999) higher than the one hundred and sixty-seven thousand, and ninety-one (167,091) recorded as at August 2020.

The NCC’s statistics also shows the 72 top Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have a total of 1879 Points-of-Presence (PoP).

In this report by TechEconomy.ng, we listed the top 20 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) with regards to the number of connected and active subscribers per individual internet service provider (ISP). The statistics are drawn from the latest industry report on the NCC website:

1. Spectranet

Spectranet leads the top 20 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Nigeria. The company was awarded a License from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in 2009 to promote Internet services across the country.

Spectranet was among the first Internet Service Providers to launch 4G LTE internet service in Nigeria and aims to be a leader in the Internet Services space.

Spectranet accounts for 249,179 out of the total 351,817 connected subscribers on ISPSs networks. This shows Spectranet added 3,340 connected subscribers in one year when compared to 245,839 it recorded in 2020.

The ISP has 119,612 active subscribers during the period under review. This shows a decrease of about 16,113 when compared to 135,725 it recorded in 2020. The point of presence reduced from 632 it had in 2020 to 629 in 2021.

2. Tizeti

In today’s digital ecosystem, telecommunication has become the foundation for businesses, governments, communities, and families to seamlessly connect and share information.

Unfortunately, access to the internet is still patchy across the African continent. Only 43% of Africa is on the internet, which is approximately 590 million of the population of 1.37 Billion.

One company really positioned to disrupt this market is Tizeti launched 7 years ago.  Tizeti came on stream at the time many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are dead or dying.

The company is leveraging the large wireless capacity available with Wi-fi and plummeting cost of solar panels to create a low CAPEX/OPEX network of owned & operated towers to offer disruptive, customer-friendly pricing for unlimited internet service right across Africa.

Tizeti provides high speed broadband internet to Residences, businesses, Events, Conferences and deploys public Wi-fi Hotspot at locations across Africa.

In 2021, Tizeti recorded 21,224 connected subscribers which is less than 21,655 in recorded in 2020. However, the active subscribers increased from 11,195 in 2020 to 15,790 last year. Surprisingly, the point of presence is now 1, compared to 109 in 2020.

3. IPNX

ipNX is one of the innovative top 20 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Nigeria. In 2021, the company launched FOS Xtreme1000, a new broadband service offering 1 Gigabit Per Second (1Gbps) speed to residential users, becoming the first player in the Nigerian market to offer such high speeds.

ipNX as one of Nigeria’s fastest growing Internet service providers serves a multitude of needs across enterprises, small businesses and residents with innovative, world-class services.

Its ability to identify, satisfy and exceed today’s market needs is a testament to over a decade of experience, commitment, drive and passion realized through highly skilled and well-seasoned professionals.

As a pioneer and a leading Fibre-To-The-Home (FTTH) operator in Nigeria, IPNX currently accounts for 15, 582 connected subscribers; 11,107 active subscribers with two Points of Presence.

4. Astramix Ltd

Astramix Limited is an Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) firm licensed by Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for Internet Service Providing.

Information about the company is very scanty on the Internet. But statistics by the Nigerian Communications Commission shows that Astramix Limited has 15,001 connected subscribers with 10,001 active subscribers across       6 Points of Presence.

5. VDT Communications

VDT is a licensed Private Network service provider specializing in the provision of Enterprise Wide Area Network (WAN) and Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) link connectivity using Fiber Optic and Wireless Communication infrastructure and access networks.

As one of the top 20 Internet Service Providers VDT providers  corporate organizations with leased Fiber Optic trunks to the thirty-six (36) states in Nigeria and the FCT, where they have 58 Point-Of-Presence (POP) and complement of technical support staffers. It has also launched broadband service for the mass market. VDT’s total connected subscribers increased to 9,424 in 2020 from 2,404 in 2021. The total active subscribers also increased from 1,731 to 6,814.

6. Cyberspace Network Ltd

Let’s tell you about Cyberspace as one of the leading ISPs in Nigeria. In 2014, it was deployed 4G LTE network infrastructure to bring to the customers an undeniable feel of 10x more Speed, Mobility, Security, Throughput, and Reduced Latency from anything the world had ever seen before then.

Cyberspace prides its superfast 4G LTE internet service as always been affordable, high quality and reliable. They have a variety of packages to choose from and whether you need single- or multi-user access, all of its devices are simple to use. From NCC’s statistics, Cyberspace 4G LTE has 7,930 connected subscribers; 5,710 active subscribers in     9 Points of Presence.

7. 21st Century Limited:

21st Century Technologies Limited (21CTL) is a Licensed Information Communications and Technology Services provider, fully mobilized and well positioned to build converged multi-service and efficiently managed networks nationwide.

21st Century Technologies Limited has its corporate head office at Plot 249A Muri Okunola Street, Victoria Island Extension with branches nationwide.

The company has its eyes on creating a worry-free communications network that meets the customers’ IT challenges and overall business goals. 21st Century Technologies has 5,315 connected subscribers and 2,601 active subscribers. It has 3 Points of Presence.

8. Broadbased Communications

Broadbased Communications Limited has distinguished itself as one of the top 20 Internet Service Providers in Nigeria. The company is a leading operator of open access Metropolitan Fiber Optic Network covering all the major business districts in Lagos.

Consequently the company provides Fiber Optic Network connectivity for Mobile Network Operators, 4G Network Operators, all the Submarine Cable Landing Stations, all Major Internet Service Providers, all Data Centers, Nigeria Internet Exchange Point, major Global Telecom Operators, all the Banks, the Nigerian Stock Exchange, all Electronic Payment Switching and Processing companies, Oil Companies, major Corporate firms and Residential Estates in partnership with other Telecom Service Providers in each Estate.

The company also provides International Voice, Data and SMS Gateway Services, National Voice Services, Internet Services and Wholesale Value Added Services (VAS Aggregator Services).

Broadbased Communications has 3,700 connected subscribers; 3,500 active subscribers and 1 Point of Presence.

9. Cobranet Ltd

Cobranet Limited is one of the long lasting Internet Service and data providers in Nigeria. Since its launch in 2003, Cobranet provides Internet Service and Data management solution to the digital universe. The company has been consistent as one of the top 20 Internet Service Providers in the country.

As an ISP, Cobranet offers corporate internet plans for organizations and medium sized businesses over a state- of- the -art -radio network in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt as well as residential plans on a network topology which is rugged, dynamic and fully redundant with negligible downtimes.

Cobranet’s promise is to continue to provide innovative and world class solutions at the best feature-to price and service –to –price ratio to ensure that customers achieve their targets while enjoying the peace of mind of being Cobranet subscribers. It has 3268 connected subscribers of which all are active and it has 1 Point of Presence.

10. Suburban Fiber Company Limited

Suburban Fiber Company Limited entered the Nigerian telecommunications market providing intelligence, statistical analysis, consultation, networks.

The company started providing mobile phone companies with intercity and international transmission facilities, which established Suburban as an industry leader in this segment with 60% market share from 2003-06.

In less than 5 years the industry evolved to industry innovation leadership in advanced fiber technology, multimedia content distribution, and cloud platform services – a position it has been able to sustain over the last 20 years, among other achievements.

As at December 2021, Suburban Fiber Company Limited, has 3,200 connected subscribers. All the subscribers are active according to NCC statistics. The company has 3 Points of Presence.

11. Radical Technology Network Ltd

Radical Technology Network Ltd, now Coollink.ng, is one of the top internet service providers in Nigerian. Over the years, the ISP has ensured the highest levels of customer responsiveness and service quality, a trait which has earned it long-standing relationships with the subscribers and made Coollink.ng one of the most reliable ISPs in Nigeria.

The service offerings include solutions to provide customers with value-added services and support, enabling them to focus on their business instead of their network and internet connection.

In 2009 Coollink.ng was the 1st African ISP to sign up with the Ka-band satellite operator Yahsat being the first to believe in the Ka-band technology on the continent.

In 2016 Coollink.ng has been contracted by Facebook to deploy the ExpressWifi solution in Nigeria, being the 1st West African company selected by Facebook for ExpressWifi.

In 2017, the ISP was appointed Strategic Partner for the whole of West Africa by NSSLGlobal one of the World’s biggest and best satellite communications service provider. It also signed a partnership agreement with Konnect-Africa, set up by Eutelsat in 2015, to expend the Ka-band services across the continent. With 2,260 Connected Subscribers, Coollink.ng has 2,260 active subscribers across 6 Points of Presence.

12. MainOne Cable

MainOne is a household name as a broadband infrastructure in West Africa. Through its Global Internet Access (GIA) Service, MainOne provides your business with secure and direct access to the internet across the globe. The platform offers direct access to MainOne’s submarine cable system.

The network is directly peered with local and leading global Internet Exchange Points as well as Tier-1 networks. This service supports applications that require access to, and from the Internet in real-time. It enables employees and external stakeholders share information via reliable, fast and secure access to the global internet.

MainOne has achieved many feats as one of the top 20 Internet Service Providers; a topnotch broadband infrastructure company providing innovative telecoms services and network solutions across West Africa.

Since its launch in 2010, MainOne has developed a reputation for providing highly reliable services to major telecom operators, ISPs, government agencies, small to large enterprises, and educational institutions in West Africa.

MainOne also owns a data centre subsidiary, MDXi which builds and operates Tier III data centres across West Africa. MainOne has 1,569 connected subscribers and all of them are active subscribers. It has 6 Points of Presence.

13. Dotmac Technologies Ltd

Dotmac Technologies Ltd is a top Internet Service Provider in Abuja, delivering broadband internet via Fiber to the Home Technology.

The company was established in 2008, as an experienced ICT company with a wide range of services that are designed to improve and optimize the services of the clients. These include:  Network services, Broadband Internet, VSAT, MPLS, Cloud services, etc.

Through its dynamic service provisioning, Dotmac Technologies proffers IT solutions and services to meet business needs which require extremely flexible solutions.

Therefore, the ability to always provide a specific solution is its greatest asset. This is done every single time by incorporating its project management skills with the knowledge and expertise of technology that has been tested and proven.

As a Gold partner of NigComSat, Dotmac is Licensed by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) with membership in the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON).

Dotmac Technologies boasts of 1,413 connected subscribers; 1,149 are active subscribers across its 5 Points of Presence.

14. Hyperia Ltd

Hyperia is a member of CIS & Chagoury group of companies and one of the oldest names in the African Internet space, having achieved its license in Nigeria since 1997.

Hyperia has its Head Quarters in VI, Lagos and branch offices in several cities in Nigeria. CIS Group, a prominent name in the IT space has its presence in 42 counties in Africa.

As Nigeria’s first Internet Backbone service provider, Hyperia is dedicated to providing low cost and easy access to the Internet, using the very latest in Internet technology.

Knowing the peculiar environment in which it operates, Hyperia has put in place a dependable and secure network making use of ‘state of the art’ equipment, thereby forming a most reliable Internet Backbone, first of its kind in Nigeria. Hyperia has 1,358 connected subscribers who are also active subscribers across the 4 Points of Presence.

15. Inq. Digital Nigeria Limited

Inq. Digital’s experience in African telecommunications spans over two decades and today, it connects over 1200 of the continent’s largest and leading corporations in over 40 countries.

Inq. Digital Nigeria Limited works closely with multinationals in all sectors of African commerce – from banking and finance, oil and gas, mining and construction right through to retail and distribution , as well as tourism.

Headquartered in Mauritius, Inq. Digital were founded in 2013 as a Convergence Partners company, which is an investment management firm focused on the Technology, Media and Telecommunications sector in Africa.

Through its Connect Fibre, Connect Wireless, Connect Satellite and Red Unlimited services, Inq. Digital Nigeria Limited keeps your business connected at the speed of light, ensuring your business is always on, responsive and ready to make the most of emerging opportunities.

Statistics-wise, Inq. Digital Nigeria Limited has 1,206 connected subscribers. All the subscribers are active and spread across 28 Points of Presence.

16. Internet Solutions Nigeria Ltd

Internet Solutions Nigeria Ltd. (ISN) is another Systems Integrator & Internet Service provider serving a diverse client base in various sectors in Nigeria and West Africa.

Since Inception in 1997, ISN continues to provide specialized services to organizations which include multinationals, local corporations and residential clients.

The company has 2 decades (20 years) of experience delivering high quality ICT services and solutions. Its coverage supports the PAN-Nigerian clients with the core network build backed up via multiple carriers.

ISN specializes in providing satellite, fixed and wireless, customized networks, Web design and Hosting, network infrastructure and software solutions.

With 846 connected subscribers who are active, ISN has two Points of Presence.

17. I-World Networks Ltd

I-World Networks is rapidly expanding the Next Generation Fixed Wireless Internet connection for Home & Business with Reliable, Cost effective Unlimited internet service at a peak speed of 1Gbps real internet speed.

With its Residential/SME, and Enterprise/business/institution plans you can be assured of internet service coverage to meet your connectivity needs.

I-World Networks also implements and supports various network infrastructure with security, reliability, and quality as business culture. Business and organization constantly grows, the key foundation of our solution stands on scalability, reliability, and security.

It has 847 Connected subscribers. From the number TechEconomy.ng gathered that 629 are active subscribers. I-World Networks has 1 Point of Presence.

18. BrainShare Ltd

Brainshare Technologies was incorporated to solve unquantifiable internet challenges facing teaming internet users in Nigeria.

The company said it is poised to bring in solution-packed initiatives into ICT Industry in Nigeria. Brainshare Technologies intends to achieve this initiative through creativity, state of art technology, commitment to excellence, excellence customer satisfaction and undiluted professionalism at all time.

Brainshare offers fibre internet services powered by the NINEXT and web hosting service powered by MYDOT.NG. According to NCC statistics, Brainshare Technologies has 788 connected subscribers. All the subscribers are active across its 6 Points of Presence.

19. IP Express Ltd

IP Express Limited is among the top 20 Internet Service providers in Nigeria. It specializes in network installation, support, and maintenance.

The company is committed to providing affordable high speed Internet connectivity using the best and the latest technology.

IP Express network engineers, designers, and installers are certified and licensed to install internet networks in small businesses, multi-family residences, companies and large institutions such as universities and hospitals.

The Unique Selling Points include Faster Speed, Cheaper Bandwidth Rates, More Data Bonus, Quick Survey & Installation Time, Personalized customer service and Free Trials (P.O.C). IP Express currently has 619 connected subscribers. The active subscribers are 583. It has 52 Points of Presence.

20. Dimension Data Limited

Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Johannesburg, At Dimension Data has grown its footprint across the Middle East and Africa. the company is a member of the NTT Ltd. Group, one of the world’s leading technology companies.

Dimension Data has made significant investments in major undersea cables – SEACOM, EASSy, APG, SJC, SMW5, EIG, LION, SAFE, ACE, SAT3, Indocom/KDN, and WACS – providing access to over 500Gbps of international high speed bandwidth. It is one of the largest aggregator of VSAT and last mile. It boasts of 78 points of presence (PoPs) across Middle East and Africa and 4 International PoPs. It has access to 500Gbs of undersea cables and 11000 m2 of data centre space.

Dimension Data empowers companies to expand their cloud and connectivity solutions in new markets through a full portfolio of advanced, end-to-end IT infrastructure services that offer a partnership with competitive, flexible pricing and reach.

According to statistics on NCC’s website, Dimension Data has 664 connected subscribers; 610 active subscribers and 15 Points of Presence.