MTN Nigeria Extends Network Reach to 93.7%, Invests N2.7bn in Communities and Digital Inclusion

By Francisca Anuforo,

MTN Nigeria expanded its network coverage to 93.7 per cent of Nigeria’s population in 2025 while investing N2.7 billion in community development and digital inclusion initiatives, according to the company’s newly released 2025 Sustainability Report.

The report highlights MTN’s continued investment in connectivity infrastructure, education, environmental sustainability and online safety as Nigeria intensifies efforts to deepen broadband penetration and close digital access gaps.

The telecom operator said its network expansion, up from 93 per cent population coverage in 2024, was driven by sustained infrastructure rollout, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

A key part of this strategy was the deployment of 229 integrated renewable, solar-powered rural telephony sites under its Project Zero initiative, aimed at extending connectivity while reducing reliance on conventional power infrastructure.

Broadband penetration within MTN’s network footprint rose to 90.1 per cent, while 4G population coverage remained steady at approximately 82 per cent.

Industry data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) further showed that MTN retained its position as Nigeria’s largest mobile operator in 2025, accounting for more than half of the country’s active GSM connections with approximately 89.64 million active mobile lines.

Beyond network expansion, MTN significantly increased its social investment footprint during the year through programmes implemented by the MTN Foundation.

According to the report, more than 534,000 Nigerians benefited from various community and empowerment initiatives spanning healthcare, youth development, education and digital access.

The company strengthened its support for science and technology education through its STEM scholarship programme, under which 300 students in public tertiary institutions received scholarships valued at N300,000 annually through graduation.

MTN also sustained its Scholarship for Blind Students and Top-10 UTME Scholarship schemes while distributing more than 25,000 learning devices in partnership with state governments to support digital learning.

The company also intensified efforts around child online protection, launching its “Help Children Be Children” initiative in response to rising concerns over online grooming, cyberbullying and harmful digital content exposure.

The programme includes school awareness campaigns, parental sensitisation workshops and collaborations with civil society organisations to promote safer digital experiences for children.

The sustainability report also shed light on the growing threat facing Nigeria’s telecom infrastructure.

MTN disclosed that it spent more than N1 billion on infrastructure repairs and security interventions following 9,218 fibre cuts recorded nationwide in 2025.

The incidents, largely attributed to vandalism, theft and accidental damage, continue to pose significant risks to network reliability and service quality.

The company said the investments formed part of broader efforts to strengthen infrastructure resilience and maintain service continuity amid rising operational challenges.

MTN noted that its sustainability strategy increasingly aligns commercial growth with environmental responsibility, digital inclusion and social impact, as the telecom sector plays a more central role in Nigeria’s economic and digital transformation agenda.