Number of telecom towers in Nigeria 2021, by leading states
Lagos had the highest number of telecom towers in Nigeria as of 2021, amounting to nearly 5,900. Ogun and Rivers followed, each with slightly over 2,000 towers. In contrast, the state of Zamfara registered the lowest count of telecommunication towers in the country. Overall, there were more than 35,000 towers in the country as of 2022, most of which were provided by IHS Limited and Globacom Limited.
Several mobile telecommunication providers operate in Nigeria
MTN has the largest market share among mobile telecommunication operators in Nigeria, referring to about 37 percent as of March 2024. Globacom and Airtel are also competitive markets, with shares closer to each other. In 2023, the number of MTN mobile network subscribers in Nigeria was close to 80 million, generally higher than those of Airtel and Globacom. Subsequently, Nigeria's telecommunications industry makes a notable contribution to the nation's GDP.
Network operators assure digital connectivity with fiber optics
On-land and submarine fiber optics are popular in Nigeria. The length of the former exceeded 49,000 kilometers, while that of the latter reached some 27,900 kilometers. The country's network operators ensure optical fiber installations. For instance, in 2022, MTN had around 18,000 kilometers and 14,600 kilometers of submarine and on-land fiber optics, respectively. By comparison, the length of submarine and on-land fiber optics achieved by Glo Nigeria amounted to approximately 9,800 kilometers and 13,800 kilometers, respectively. Overall, the nation's fiber-to-home subscriptions have increased over the last couple of years.
