MTN Nigeria Records 74.5% Data Revenue Growth, Strengthens Broadband Base

The drive to bring millions of unbanked Nigerians into the formal financial sector has received a major boost, driven largely by the robust profitability and aggressive Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) of telecom operators.

MTN Nigeria’s 2025 audited financial results clearly illustrate this trajectory, with Fintech revenue recording an unprecedented 79.7 per cent growth. This surge in digital financial services is underpinned by a rapidly expanding digital footprint, as active data subscribers increased by 11.6 per cent to 53.2 million.

The correlation between a telco’s bottom line and financial inclusion cannot be overstated. Without significant profit margins, the massive CAPEX required to push telecommunications networks into rural, underserved areas would be mathematically impossible, leaving millions cut off from the modern digital economy.

To bridge this gap, MTN committed N1 trillion in CAPEX, essentially building the physical rails upon which mobile money and digital banking platforms operate.

Data adoption which facilitates this digital inclusion remains on a steep upward trajectory. The company reported a 74.5 per cent increase in data revenue, while home broadband subscribers grew by 31.0 per cent to reach 4.2 million, proving that heavy network investments directly stimulate commercial momentum.

MTN Nigeria CEO, Karl Olutokun Toriola, attributed the company’s ability to drive this expansion to balance-sheet resilience. He explained that robust operating performance and reduced foreign-currency exposure supported the company’s accelerated CAPEX deployment.

Consequently, he noted that this targeted network investment, is designed to enhance the quality of service, which is a non-negotiable requirement for the security and reliability of digital financial transactions.