Nigeria’s broadband penetration has continued to fall below the 50 percent mark despite a surge in data usage in the country.
According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), broadband penetration stood at 45.61 percent in January 2025, while internet usage grew to an all-time high of 1,000,930 terabytes in January 2025, on increased reliance on digital services.
This surge in internet usage has been driven by rising demand for internet services such as video streaming, social media engagement, remote work, and fintech innovations.
Despite this, poor infrastructure and high phone and internet costs have been major issues, according to GSMA, the global body for telcos.
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GSMA notes that only about 29 percent of Nigerians (about 58 million) use the internet regularly. Mobile internet subscriptions stood at 141.67 million, while broadband subscription was 98.88 million in January 2025, according to the NCC.
About 85 percent of Nigerians on the mobile internet use it to make or receive video calls, 75 percent watch free-to-access online videos, and 54 percent listen to free music online.
However, the expansion of broadband infrastructure has not kept pace with this demand, limiting equitable access to high-speed connectivity, particularly in rural areas.
Nigeria’s broadband penetration, measured by the number of active broadband subscriptions relative to the population, has struggled to meet national targets. The National Broadband Plan (2020–2025) set a goal of 50 percent penetration by 2023 and 70 percent by 2025, but infrastructure gaps remain a significant challenge.
