LAGOS, June 5 – Three internet service providers, Spectranet, Starlink and FibreOne, accounted for nearly 70% of Nigeria’s internet service provider market by the end of 2025, highlighting the growing concentration of subscribers among a small group of operators.
According to subscriber data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria recorded 352,006 active ISP subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2025. Of that total, the three largest providers served a combined 244,929 customers, representing 69.58% of the market.
Spectranet remained the country’s largest ISP with 108,525 active subscribers, followed by Starlink with 91,991 subscribers and FibreOne with 44,413.
The newest figures show a continuation of a trend that gathered pace throughout 2025. By the end of June, Nigeria had 313,713 active ISP subscribers, up from 285,605 recorded at the end of 2024. At the time, the same three providers controlled about 65% of the market.
Starlink recorded one of the strongest gains during the period. The satellite internet provider increased its subscriber base from 66,523 in the first half of 2025 to 91,991 by the fourth quarter, reflecting growing demand for its services across the country.
While the NCC’s registry lists more than 220 licensed internet service providers, only 133 operators submitted performance reports during the second quarter of 2025. This points to a market where many licensed providers remain inactive or operate on a limited scale.
Industry participants have continued to cite high bandwidth costs, foreign exchange pressures, rising diesel prices and right-of-way charges as key challenges facing smaller operators.
At the same time, expanding 5G and fibre broadband services from major telecom operators have increased competition, leaving a larger share of subscriber growth in the hands of a few dominant providers.
