Nigeria’s 5G adoption remains surprisingly low despite billions of naira invested by telecom operators to expand next-generation network infrastructure, with the technology accounting for just 4.49 per cent of mobile connections as of May 2026.
The latest data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), updated on July 31, 2026, showed that 4G remained dominant with 54.30 per cent of mobile connections, while 2G and 3G accounted for 36.12 per cent and 5.10 per cent respectively. The figures highlight the wide gap between the money being spent on 5G infrastructure and the rate at which Nigerians are actually connecting to the technology.
Nigeria recorded 189.68 million active mobile subscriptions in May, while broadband subscriptions reached about 122 million and monthly data consumption climbed to a record 1.5 million terabytes. Yet, despite growing smartphone ownership and demand for data, 5G’s share increased only from 3.17 per cent in August 2025 to 4.49 per cent in May 2026. The NCC has also identified a major gap between owning a 5G-enabled device and having reliable access to a 5G network, particularly in major cities such as Lagos and Abuja.
For telecom operators, the challenge goes beyond buying spectrum. Companies must spend heavily on base stations, fibre, power systems, cooling equipment and other infrastructure while maintaining existing 2G, 3G and 4G networks. MTN Nigeria’s capital expenditure, excluding leases, rose to about N1 trillion in 2025, while Airtel Africa added more than 1,050 sites, including 657 5G sites. Industry stakeholders, however, say high right-of-way charges, state levies, unreliable electricity, fibre cuts, security concerns and other deployment costs are making nationwide 5G expansion more difficult.
Analysts say the commercial case for 5G will become stronger as demand grows for artificial intelligence, cloud computing, streaming, Internet of Things services and enterprise connectivity. However, 4G remains good enough for many Nigerians using mobile banking, social media, e-commerce, remote work and online education. Industry stakeholders are therefore calling for lower deployment costs, improved electricity supply, infrastructure sharing, better fibre protection and spectrum policies that leave operators with enough capital to build networks. Until these barriers are addressed, Nigeria’s 5G rollout is likely to remain gradual, with investment continuing but mass adoption still some distance away.
source: Leadership
