MTN Nigeria has invested ₦864.8 billion in network expansion during the first nine months of 2026 as the telecommunications operator intensifies efforts to meet rising demand for data and broadband services.
The investment represents a 14.2 per cent increase from the corresponding period of 2025, according to the company’s unaudited financial results for the nine months ended September 30, 2026.
The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Karl Toriola, said the spending was driven by increasing demand for connectivity and the need to strengthen network capacity and coverage.
MTN Nigeria’s subscriber base expanded to 94.7 million during the period, including 57.2 million active data users, highlighting the growing importance of internet services to its operations.
A significant part of the company’s infrastructure programme involved expanding its fibre-to-the-home services to accommodate households seeking reliable broadband connectivity.
Toriola said the company’s fibre-to-the-home service now carries approximately 13 per cent of its total data traffic, helping to ease pressure on the mobile network while supporting increased internet usage among households.
He added that the company would sustain investments to improve network quality and customer experience, despite continuing challenges from fibre cuts and other infrastructure disruptions.
The investment coincided with stronger financial performance, as MTN Nigeria’s service revenue rose 23.7 per cent to ₦4.6 trillion, while profit after tax increased 55.3 per cent to ₦1.17 trillion.
The company’s Chief Financial Officer, Modupe Kadri, disclosed that approximately ₦861 billion was paid in dividends during the nine-month period.
The expansion highlights the growing importance of telecommunications infrastructure to Nigeria’s digital economy, where reliable connectivity supports businesses, education, financial services and other essential activities.
As data consumption continues to rise, sustained investment in network capacity and broadband infrastructure will remain critical to improving service delivery and supporting digital inclusion across the country.
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