MTN Nigeria invests N1.62 trillion in network infrastructure between 2025 and the first half of 2026, as its profit after tax rose 70.6 per cent to N707.5 billion.
The Chief Financial Officer (CFO), MTN Nigeria, Mr. Modupe Kadri, told journalists in Lagos during its H1 2026 Mid-Year Catch-Up Presentation that the sustained investment was aimed at expanding broadband access, improving service quality and supporting Nigeria’s digital economy and long-term growth.
In the presentation entitled, “Beyond the Numbers: What the Results Tell Us About Nigeria’s Digital Future”, Kadri said that the telecom operator reported N3 trillion service revenue in H1 2026, representing a 25.9 per cent year-on-year increase, driven mainly by data services.
According to him, data revenue rose 38.4 per cent to N1.70 trillion, accounting for 57 per cent of total service revenue, while voice contributed N993 billion or 33 per cent.
“Active data users increased 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 25.8 per cent as average monthly data consumption reached 14.8GB per user, reflecting rising demand for digital services,’’ the CFO said.
The MTN official stated that capital expenditure, excluding leases, stood at N620.5 billion in H1 2026 after investing N1.003 trillion in 2025.
Kadri said that the investments expanded network capacity, reduced congestion and strengthened customer experience through new sites, fibre deployment and data centre infrastructure.
He disclosed that its network now comprised over 62,000 base stations, 43,000 kilometres of fibre and 16 switching centres nationwide.
The CFO explained that infrastructure currently provided 93.7 per cent 2G, 87.6 per cent 3G and 84.6 per cent 4G population coverage, with 5G reaching 12.8 per cent.
He noted that every additional gigabyte consumed required capacity to be built before revenue was realised, making continuous investment critical to sustaining Nigeria’s digital transformation.
The MTN official also reported N712.7 billion free cash flow, up 73.9 per cent and declared an interim dividend of N26 per share, payable on Sept. 7.
According to him, the report contains operating expense growth at 11.3 per cent, despite inflationary pressures, rising diesel costs and global equipment price increases.
He said that all foreign currency loans had been fully repaid, reducing foreign exchange exposure from a peak of 417 million dollars in 2023 to zero.
On economic impact, MTN said that it paid N622.6 billion in taxes, duties and regulatory levies in H1 2026, and spent N1.5 trillion on Nigerian suppliers and service providers.
Kadri said that 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 that the MTN Foundation invested N1.4 billion in education, healthcare and entrepreneurship programmes during H1 2026, bringing 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 reconstructing the 110 kilometre Enugu-Onitsha Expressway under the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme, with the project over 75 per cent completed.
It added that sustained investment in digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, fibre connectivity and financial technology would remain central to Nigeria’s economic competitiveness and inclusive growth.
GIK/APA