Voice and data usage drives telecoms’ N4.7trn contribution to Nigeria’s real GDP in Q1’26

The Nigerian telecoms industry has contributed 9.19% (N4.71 trillion) to the country’s real GDP for the first quarter of 2026. This is according to the latest economic data released by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the industry saw a 0.01 percentage point drop compared to Q2 2025. However, the 9.19% is significant on its own as well. It’s the telecoms industry’s second-highest contribution to the Nigerian economy over the past eight quarters. 

The 9.19% contribution builds on the 8.1% contribution in Q4 2025 and the 7.7% contribution in Q3 2025. With a continued surge in telecom subscribers and infrastructure investment by mobile network operations such as MTN, Airtel and Globacom, the industry is poised for growth. 

Telecoms continues as the major driver of the Information and Communication Sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s Real GDP. While the sector injected N5.8 trillion, telecoms led with N4.71 trillion, followed by broadcasting with N580.85 billion, Pictures, Sound and Recording with N496.6 billion, and Publishing with N10.32 billion. 

Overall, Nigeria’s real GDP grew by 3.89% year-on-year during the quarter, higher than the 3.13% recorded in the first quarter of 2025. The services sector is the biggest contributor to Nigeria’s economy, with 57.73%.

The NBS report revealed that agriculture, industry, and services are the largest contributors to GDP growth, as agriculture recorded improved performance compared to Q1 2025.

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A good start for telecoms in 2026

Coming from its 8.3% contribution to GDP in 2025, telecoms remains a notable industry of the Nigerian economy. 

For 185.7 million subscribers, access to voice and data services is an essential part of daily activities. The data side has been witnessing significant revenue generation for telecom operators due to the continued surge in usage patterns.

Industry data from the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) reveal that Nigerians spent N3.33 trillion on data in the first three months of 2026.

According to the report, an average Nigerian internet subscriber used 4.06 million terabytes in the first quarter of the year. The figure also means that Nigerians spent N3.3 trillion on data during the period, with each Nigerian using an average of 28 gigabytes (GB). 

Telecoms is one of the top non-oil services contributors to the Nigerian economy. It’s the heart of the economy as banking, fintech, e-commerce, education and health mostly depend on connectivity for daily operation. In fact, it will play a big role in Nigeria’s $1 trillion digital economy ambition.

The 9.19% contribution to real GDP paints the picture of an industry witnessing a remarkable increase in subscribers and the flow of money. This growth is also attributed to data. 

For instance, Airtel Nigeria’s earnings for the first quarter in 2026 surged by 40.2% to $475 million, and almost half of that revenue ($244 million) was attributed to data subscriptions. MTN Nigeria saw its data revenue for the period reach N826.1 billion, also largely contributing to a profit before tax of N546.4 billion.

The telecoms industry is growing in Nigeria, and subscribers are increasing. The investment pattern over the next couple of months is pivotal for both growth and contribution to the Nigerian economy.