MTN Nigeria has invested N1.62 trillion in network infrastructure between 2025 and the first half, H1, of 2026, as its profit after tax rose by 70.6 per cent to N707.5 billion.
The telecoms operator said the investment, which included network expansion, fibre deployment and data centre infrastructure, was aimed at improving service quality, expanding broadband access and supporting Nigeria’s digital economy.
The Chief Financial Officer of MTN Nigeria, Modupe Kadri, disclosed this during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos as part of the company’s H1 2026 Mid-Year Catch-Up Presentation, titled, “Beyond the Numbers: What the Results Tell Us About Nigeria’s Digital Future.”
Kadri said MTN Nigeria recorded N3 trillion in service revenue in the first half of 2026, representing a 25.9 per cent year-on-year increase, driven largely by growth in data services.
He said data revenue rose by 38.4 per cent to N1.70 trillion, accounting for 57 per cent of total service revenue, while voice services contributed N993 billion, or 33 per cent.
“Active data users increased by 9.3 per cent to 55.7 million, while subscribers grew by 4.9 per cent to 92.2 million during the period.
“Network data traffic expanded by 25.8 per cent as average monthly data consumption reached 14.8GB per user, reflecting rising demand for digital services,” Kadri said.
According to Kadri, MTN Nigeria’s capital expenditure, excluding leases, stood at N620.5 billion in H1 2026, following an investment of N1.003 trillion in 2025.
He said the investments had expanded network capacity, reduced congestion and improved customer experience through the deployment of new sites, fibre infrastructure and data centres.
Kadri said MTN Nigeria’s network now comprised more than 62,000 base stations, over 43,000 kilometres of fibre and 16 switching centres nationwide.
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He said the infrastructure provided 93.7 per cent 2G, 87.6 per cent 3G and 84.6 per cent 4G population coverage, while 5G coverage stood at 12.8 per cent.
The CFO said continuous investment was critical because every additional gigabyte of data consumed required network capacity to be built before the company could realize corresponding revenue.
MTN Nigeria also reported free cash flow of N712.7 billion, representing a 73.9 per cent increase, and declared an interim dividend of N26 per share, payable on September 7.
Kadri said operating expenses increased by 11.3 per cent despite inflationary pressures, higher diesel costs and rising global equipment prices.
He added that the company had fully repaid its foreign currency loans, reducing its foreign exchange exposure from a peak of $417 million in 2023 to zero.
On its economic contribution, MTN Nigeria said it paid N622.6 billion in taxes, duties and regulatory levies during H1 2026 and spent N1.5 trillion on Nigerian suppliers and service providers.
Kadri said the telecommunications sector contributed about 9.2 per cent to Nigeria’s gross domestic product, while MTN supported about two million jobs through direct and indirect employment, agents and trade partners.
He said the MTN Foundation invested N1.4 billion in education, healthcare and entrepreneurship programmes during the period, bringing its cumulative investment since inception to N35.7 billion across more than 1,090 project sites.
The company also disclosed that it had committed N202.8 billion to the reconstruction of the 110-kilometre Enugu-Onitsha Expressway under the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme. The project is more than 75 per cent complete.
MTN Nigeria said sustained investment in digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, fibre connectivity and financial technology would remain central to Nigeria’s economic competitiveness and inclusive growth.
NAN
