Globacom is stepping up investments in network infrastructure as Nigeria’s appetite for internet services continues to rise, intensifying competition among mobile network operators in the country.
With more Nigerians relying on the internet for remote work, digital payments, artificial intelligence, and other data-heavy activities, telecom operators are under increasing pressure to deliver faster speeds, wider coverage, and more reliable connectivity. For many users, a basic internet experience is no longer enough.
Nigeria’s Data Consumption Keeps Climbing
Industry figures show that Nigeria’s total internet usage rose by 1,085 terabytes in November 2025, increasing to 1,236,544.10 terabytes from 1,235,459.47 terabytes in October.
Between January and November 2025, cumulative data consumption grew by more than 236,000 terabytes, underscoring the rapid expansion of online activity nationwide.
Subscriber growth has followed a similar trend. As of November 2025, Nigeria recorded 144.8 million internet users, a 1.5% increase from 142.6 million in October, driven largely by rising smartphone adoption and the country’s digital economy push.
Why Infrastructure Investment Matters
As users demand faster browsing speeds and longer online sessions, telecom operators are being forced to scale infrastructure to:
- Strengthen network stability
- Increase data throughput
- Extend coverage to rural and underserved communities
Globacom currently serves 22.2 million subscribers, accounting for nearly 13% of Nigeria’s telecom market, based on the latest industry data.
Nationwide Network and Coverage Expansion
To improve service quality, Globacom is executing a nationwide expansion programme focused on enhancing customer experience and network performance.
A central element of this effort is the rollout of additional base stations, designed to boost capacity in densely populated areas while extending coverage to previously underserved locations.
These investments have reinforced Globacom’s standing as Nigeria’s second-largest tower operator.
According to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the company increased its tower count by 223 sites, growing from 8,550 towers in 2023 to 8,773 in 2024.
Only Nigerian Operator Running Its Own Towers
Globacom remains the only indigenous mobile network operator in Nigeria that fully owns and manages its tower infrastructure.
The NCC’s 2024 Year-End Performance Report shows that Globacom controls 22% of Nigeria’s 39,880 telecom towers, ranking second behind IHS Towers, which holds 47% of the market.
Globacom also leads American Tower Services (ATS) with a 21% share, while MTN owns about 1% of towers and Airtel controls less than 1%, relying largely on leased infrastructure from companies such as IHS Towers and American Tower Corporation (ATC).
Strengthening Fibre and Core Network Systems
A Globacom insider, spoke on condition of anonymity, said the company is focused on reinforcing critical infrastructure nationwide, including:
- Expansion of fibre backbone networks
- Upgraded transmission routes
- Modernised switching centres
- Optimised traffic management systems
According to the source, increased tower deployment helps ease congestion, reduce dropped calls, and improve both voice and data quality for subscribers.
Performance Rankings Reflect Network Gains
An independent assessment by nPerf, a France-based mobile speed testing platform, ranked Globacom as the third-best mobile internet provider in Nigeria in 2025.
The report highlighted Globacom’s performance in key areas, including:
- Latency: 121.81 milliseconds
- Browsing score: 29.86%
Although MTN emerged as the top-ranked provider overall, Globacom’s browsing performance placed it ahead of Airtel and close to MTN in terms of everyday internet usage, particularly on social media platforms.
Responding to the ranking, a Globacom representative said the results were driven by sustained network upgrades throughout 2025, describing them as “the unseen architecture of reliability” that will shape improved customer experience in 2026.
Spectrum Expansion and Greener Operations
Globacom said its 2025 investment strategy included:
- Acquisition of additional spectrum
- Deployment of thousands of new LTE sites
- Expansion of fibre infrastructure nationwide
The company said these upgrades will reduce network disruptions, support rising data volumes, and deliver faster download and upload speeds, alongside smoother 4G video streaming.
In parallel, Globacom has rolled out hybrid battery power solutions across multiple sites to lower diesel usage, cut operational costs, and improve network uptime through more sustainable energy practices.
Glo-1 Submarine Cable Anchors Future Growth
The operator said its Glo-1 international submarine cable, which it owns outright, will be central to maintaining bandwidth reliability and operational efficiency in 2026.
According to Globacom, the cable will help support Nigeria’s ambition to build a $1 trillion digital economy, particularly as demand increases for cloud computing, AI-driven services, and advanced digital platforms.
Outlook
As Globacom enters its 26th year of operations, the company says it remains committed to continuous infrastructure investment and readiness to adopt emerging technologies.
With a stronger network backbone and ongoing upgrades, Globacom aims to deliver a more consistent and improved internet experience for millions of Nigerian subscribers in the years ahead.
