By Aminu Umar Turaki
Nigeria’s telecommunications sector is to move from a period of consolidation in 2025 into a phase of expansion in 2026, according to projections by the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON).
The ATCON President, Mr Tony Emoekpere, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, making reference to renewed investor confidence, growing digital demand, and improved coordination between industry players and government agencies as key growth drivers.
Emoekpere said the sector is entering 2026 on stronger footing, following collaborative efforts among telecom operators, regulators, and the Federal Government aimed at deepening digital inclusion across the country.
Thee ATCON President described the year as one of stabilisation and disciplined capital management. He stressed that despite significant challenges, including high energy costs, foreign exchange volatility, expensive equipment imports, and persistent Right-of-Way (RoW) issues, industry players remained committed to operations.
According to him, telecom operators, tower companies, and internet service providers focused on strengthening networks in high-traffic areas while accelerating the adoption of solar and hybrid energy solutions to reduce dependence on diesel.
He added that data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) shows Nigeria’s broadband penetration surpassed 50% in 2025, driven largely by increased data consumption. Services such as digital payments, streaming platforms, cloud computing, and other online applications have become central to daily life, boosting demand for reliable connectivity.
Emoekpere also commended the NCC for sustaining investor confidence through transparent reporting, enforcement of Quality of Service (QoS) standards, and effective spectrum management.
He stated that the growing demand from fintech, artificial intelligence, and other data-intensive industries will fuel further expansion.
Emoekpere said telecom operators plan to ramp up investments in data centres and last-mile broadband infrastructure. This will include expanded deployment of fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) networks and fixed wireless access (FWA) solutions.
He stated that the effective enforcement of telecom infrastructure as critical national assets will be crucial to achieving growth targets in 2026. He called for stronger collaboration to protect fibre routes and telecom towers from vandalism, alongside the harmonisation of Right-of-Way charges across states.
The ATCON President also emphasized that the continued burden of multiple taxation on operators, urging authorities to address the issue to support sustainable sector growth.
Nigeria recently crossed the 50% broadband penetration threshold for the first time since the implementation of the National Broadband Plan (2020-2025). However, the country is still expected to fall short of the Plan’s 70% target by the end of 2025.
NCC data shows that Nigeria recorded 109.6 million broadband subscriptions as of November 2025, translating to a penetration rate of 50.58%, up from 49.89% in October. Despite this progress, broadband penetration has grown by just over 6% so far in 2025, compared to 44.43% at the end of 2024.
