In 2025, MTN Nigeria launched its largest network upgrade yet, investing ₦1 trillion to expand coverage and improve service quality — more than double its 2024 expenditure.
MTN Record Network Investment
CEO Karl Toriola said the investment aimed to meet Nigeria’s growing demand for mobile data and enhance customer experience across the country.
Growth Driven By Tariff Hike
Moreover, the surge in spending followed a 50% increase in telecom tariffs that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) approved, marking the first significant adjustment in over a decade.
This hike, designed to help operators sustain service quality amid rising inflation and energy costs, became a key catalyst for MTN’s growth.
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As a result, MTN added 6.4 million new subscribers, bringing its mobile user base to 87.3 million, while active data users climbed to 53.2 million, reflecting rapid smartphone adoption and digital engagement.
Data traffic surged 34%, which directly drove a rise in service revenue.
Strong Profitability And Taxes
Additionally, MTN secured a three-year spectrum lease with T2 Mobile, enhancing national roaming and network reliability.
Consequently, overall service revenue jumped 55.1%, with fourth-quarter revenue rising 49.3%.
Profit after tax soared to ₦1.1 trillion, reversing the ₦400.4 billion loss in 2024.
EBITDA more than doubled to ₦2.7 trillion, while free cash flow increased 215.5% to ₦1.2 trillion, demonstrating strong underlying cash generation.
Furthermore, MTN contributed ₦878.7 billion in taxes, reaffirming its position as one of Nigeria’s largest corporate taxpayers.
According to ALTON chairman Gbenga Adebayo, the tariff increase played a crucial role in saving the telecom sector.
By the end of 2025, MTN had strengthened networks, expanded digital access, and returned to profitability, cementing its role in Nigeria’s evolving data-driven economy.
