Nigeria's digital landscape is witnessing a significant shift, with millions embracing faster internet and consuming data at unprecedented rates. Latest figures from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) show that as of November 2025, approximately 6.38 million Nigerians are now connected to Fifth Generation (5G) networks. This milestone comes as the country's total mobile data traffic reaches a new monthly peak of 1.24 million terabytes, highlighting a deepening reliance on digital services.
The State of 5G Deployment and Investment
Now in its third year of commercial operation, 5G in Nigeria is growing, albeit from a relatively small base. The 6.38 million users represent 3.60 per cent of the nation's 177.4 million active telecom subscribers. The rollout has been backed by substantial financial commitments from major operators. Over the last three years, nearly $1 billion has been paid in core spectrum licensing fees to the government, with MTN and Airtel investing hundreds of millions more in building out sites and backhaul infrastructure.
However, network coverage remains concentrated. MTN's 5G service is available in Lagos, Abuja, Rivers, Oyo, Kano, Imo, Borno, Ogun, Delta, Enugu, and Edo states. Airtel, which launched its commercial 5G in June 2023, currently covers Lagos, Abuja, Rivers, Ogun, and Osun states. Even within these states, access is largely restricted to urban centres, creating a clear digital divide where rural and semi-urban areas rely on older, slower networks.
Data Explosion and Network Strain
The adoption of advanced networks coincides with a data consumption boom. Despite recent tariff increases, total national data usage is projected to exceed 13 million terabytes by the end of 2025, marking a yearly growth of about 35 per cent. This surge is driven by increased video streaming, cloud application use, and the expansion of the digital economy.
While 4G remains the dominant technology with 51.99 per cent penetration (92.2 million users), the new 5G networks in cities are strategically handling a disproportionate share of high-capacity traffic. Its superior speed and lower latency are enabling services that were previously constrained. However, this growth is testing infrastructure limits. A report by the NCC and Ookla found that major urban areas like Lagos and Abuja face significant network congestion due to high user density, leading to issues like dropped video calls, buffering, and failed mobile payments.
Challenges of Access and the Device Gap
A major hurdle for 5G adoption is the gap between device capability and network access. The NCC/Ookla report indicates that in Lagos, about 70.9 per cent of smartphones capable of using 5G cannot actually connect to a 5G network. In Abuja, the figure is similarly high at 65.6 per cent. This highlights a mismatch between consumer hardware investment and the pace of network deployment.
The performance analysis also varied by operator. MTN was noted for strong national performance in speed and reliability metrics. Airtel maintained an edge in urban 4G download speeds but showed a performance dip as it transitions toward 5G, with its latency needing improvement. The report also underscored a persistent quality divide, with network speeds in underserved rural areas up to 50 per cent lower than in cities, hindering nationwide digital inclusion.
The sustained investments by MTN and Airtel signal that operators view 5G as the essential long-term platform for Nigeria's digital future. For now, Mafab Communications, which secured a license alongside MTN, has yet to make significant visible strides in investment or network expansion.
