Despite the rapid depletion of mobile data experienced by subscribers, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) insists there is no cause for alarm. However, the regulator has directed network operators to audit their systems to determine the root causes of these issues.
While subscribers continue to lament poor service quality and unexpected data exhaustion, the NCC maintains that broadband penetration reached 45 per cent in January 2025. According to the commission, Nigeria’s broadband penetration stood at 45.61 per cent at the beginning of the year, reflecting a growing reliance on digital services. However, persistent challenges such as inadequate infrastructure and high costs remain significant barriers.
Although there has been a surge in internet usage, broadband penetration is still well below the 70 per cent target. NCC data reveals that mobile internet subscriptions reached 141.67 million in January 2025, with broadband subscriptions accounting for 98.88 million. Internet consumption has hit an all-time high of 1,000,930 terabytes, driven by increased demand for video streaming, social media, remote work, and fintech innovations.
However, inadequate infrastructure and the high cost of devices and internet services continue to stifle growth. According to the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), only about 29 per cent of Nigerians – approximately 58 million people – use the internet regularly. This suggests that achieving 70 per cent broadband penetration by 2025 is highly unrealistic, given the infrastructure deficit and poor network coverage that have left more than 70 per cent of the population without reliable internet access.
To bridge the broadband penetration gap, the Federal Government launched the National Broadband Plan (NBP 2020–2025), targeting 70 per cent broadband penetration and 90 per cent population coverage by 2025. The Nigerian Broadband Alliance for Nigeria (NBAN) was also introduced to bring together government agencies, private sector leaders, non-profits and civil society organizations to accelerate progress.
The NCC has taken several steps to improve broadband connectivity, including licensing Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos), assigning 2.3GHz spectrum for wholesale last-mile wireless services, and simplifying regulatory processes. However, the InfraCo initiative remains largely ineffective, despite substantial financial incentives meant to drive its implementation.
In 2020, the NCC inaugurated a 25-member committee led by CEO of MainOne Cable Company, Funke Opeke to develop the National Broadband Plan. The plan was designed around four pillars: Infrastructure, policy, demand drivers and funding and incentives. It was officially launched in March 2020 by then-Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami.
One of the plan’s key objectives was to ensure that the cost of 1GB of data did not exceed N390 – equivalent to 2 per cent of the median income or 1 per cent of the minimum wage. The NBP 2020–2025 also set ambitious goals, including raising broadband penetration from 37.8 per cent in 2020 to over 70 per cent by 2025 and ensuring that at least 90 per cent of the population had access to affordable, reliable internet with minimum speeds of 25Mbps in urban areas and 10Mbps in rural regions.
Despite these ambitious targets, achieving 70 per cent broadband penetration remains a formidable challenge. The federal government acknowledged this reality when it launched the Nigerian Broadband Alliance in February 2025. Speaking at the launch, officials admitted that broadband infrastructure across the country remains underutilised.
“Many networks remain underutilized. In numerous parts of the country, the capacity of existing fiber infrastructure far exceeds demand. This is primarily due to a lack of access in unserved and underserved areas, compounded by significant barriers to broadband adoption,” a government statement noted.
The challenges include limited access to devices, low digital literacy, bureaucratic regulatory processes, and unreliable power supply. These issues not only slow digital transformation but also reduce return on investment for broadband infrastructure, creating a vicious cycle that must be broken if Nigeria hopes to realize its digital economy ambitions.
In a keynote address delivered by executive vice-chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maina on behalf of the Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, the government reiterated its commitment to broadband expansion. “Despite our collective goals—achieving 70 per cent broadband penetration by 2025, delivering minimum data speeds of 25Mbps in urban areas and 10Mbps in rural areas, expanding population coverage to 80 per cent by 2027 and increasing broadband investments by 300–500 per cent – Nigeria faces an unfortunate paradox,” he said.
NBAN aims to address this paradox by aggregating demand across key sectors, including educational institutions, healthcare facilities, religious centres and markets, to transform broadband into a catalyst for socio-economic development.
The event was attended by stakeholders from the private and public sectors, including the National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr. Vincent Olatunji; MD of Galaxy Backbone Limited, Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju; MD of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), Jane Egerton-Idehen and the Postmaster General of Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), Tola Odeyemi.
Meanwhile, a comparison of global broadband penetration rates highlights Nigeria’s lagging position. In Europe, fixed broadband subscriptions reached 37.2 per 100 inhabitants in 2024, the highest among global regions. The Americas recorded the second-highest penetration rate at 26.6 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, while the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region had 25.3.
Africa, however, remains at the bottom, with less than one fixed subscription per 100 people. Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) has been proposed as a potential solution to Africa’s broadband deficit, as it enables high-speed internet delivery without requiring extensive fiber networks.
As of 2023, Africa had the lowest broadband penetration rate globally, averaging just 28 per cent according to the World Bank. Some African countries fare better than Nigeria in broadband access – South Africa boasts 70 per cent penetration, while Morocco has 52 per cent, according to Data Reportal (April 2024).
European countries lead the world in broadband penetration. Iceland tops the list with 99.8 per cent, followed by Finland (98.4 per cent) and Denmark (98.2 per cent), according to the Speedtest Global Index 2024. In North America, Canada (94.2 per cent) and the United States (93.7 per cent) also have exceptionally high broadband penetration rates.
While Nigeria has made strides in broadband expansion, the goal of 70 per cent penetration by 2025 appears increasingly unattainable. Addressing infrastructure gaps, reducing costs, and increasing digital literacy will be critical to bridging the broadband divide. Without significant improvements in these areas, Nigeria risks falling further behind in the global digital economy.
