MTN Nigeria Adds 250,000 eSIM Users in 2025, Reaching 492,000 Total
Updated
Updated · Technext · Jun 22
MTN Nigeria Adds 250,000 eSIM Users in 2025, Reaching 492,000 Total
1 articles · Updated · Technext · Jun 22
Summary
MTN Nigeria’s eSIM base rose by more than 250,000 in 2025 to 492,000 subscribers, extending its lead in a market where it launched the service first in 2020.
That total still represents a tiny share of MTN’s 94 million users, while Mobile World Live’s 2026 survey said about 55% of customers globally remain unaware of eSIM technology.
In Nigeria, getting an eSIM still requires a compatible device, a verified NIN linked to the SIM, and an in-person visit to a carrier service center for activation or conversion.
The technology’s appeal is broader than adoption suggests: eSIMs let users store multiple operator profiles on one device and are harder to remove from stolen phones.
Longer term, GSMA Intelligence expects eSIM smartphone connections to reach 4.9 billion by 2030, pointing to significant room for growth despite today’s low awareness.