Nigeria’s broadband penetration has failed to surpass the 50% mark despite a record surge in data usage and efforts by the government to reduce infrastructure gaps and cut down high operational costs.
According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), broadband penetration stood at 45.61% in January 2025 while internet usage soared to an unprecedented 1,000,930 terabytes during the same period.
This was driven by rising demand for video streaming, social media, remote work and financial technology services.
The report showed a growing disparity between data consumption and broadband access with the expansion of critical infrastructure lagging behind demand.
Mobile internet subscriptions reached 141.67 million while broadband subscriptions stood at 98.88 million.
However, only about 29% of Nigerians or 58 million people, use the internet regularly, according to the GSMA, the global body for telecommunications operators.
Industry experts attribute the stagnation in broadband penetration to poor infrastructure, regulatory challenges and escalating costs associated with deploying fiber networks.
Chris Wood, Chief Executive Officer of WIOCC Group, explained that there is an urgent need for investment in fiber networks. He said is “the most important thing that needs to be built out.”
Nigeria currently faces a 90,000-kilometer fiber infrastructure gap, which continues to impede high-speed internet access, particularly in rural areas.
The National Broadband Plan (2020–2025) set a target of 50% broadband penetration by 2023 and 70% by 2025 with a goal of delivering minimum data speeds of 25 Mbps in urban areas and 10 Mbps in rural regions.
However, the slow pace of infrastructure deployment has cast doubt on the feasibility of these targets.
The plan also aims to expand broadband population coverage to 80% by 2027 and boost broadband investments by 300% to 500% within the same timeframe.
Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, said effective collaborative efforts are needed to achieve Nigeria’s broadband targets.
“Achieving broadband’s transformative goals requires more than just policy; it requires collaboration,” Tijani said.
However, the uneven distribution of broadband infrastructure remains a significant concern. While major cities such as Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt enjoy relatively stable internet connectivity, rural and underserved communities continue to experience limited access to essential digital services, including e-learning, e-commerce, and telemedicine.
According to the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), approximately 27.91 million Nigerians live in areas that are either underserved or completely unserved by telecom services.
Analysts warn that unless substantial investments are made to close the infrastructure gap, Nigeria’s broadband penetration could stagnate further and undermine the country’s aspirations for a robust digital economy.
