In January 2024, Nigeria saw an impressive surge in data usage, hitting an all-time high of 721,522 terabytes, as reported by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). This achievement exceeded the previous record set in December 2023, which was 713,200 terabytes.
Concurrently, there was a significant increase in active internet subscriptions, totaling 161,977,883. This marked a notable rise from the 156,244,368 subscriptions recorded in January of the previous year.
These subscriptions come from various providers, including mobile network operators (telcos), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers, and fixed-line services.
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Of these subscriptions, mobile connections made up the bulk, with 161,504,390 subscribers. Internet service providers, whether through wired or wireless connections, accounted for 213,876 subscriptions. Additionally, there were 21,437 fixed-line connections and 238,180 VoIP subscribers.
Despite a decrease of 1.9 million internet users in January 2024 compared to December 2023, dropping from 163.8 million to 161.9 million, the internet penetration rate remained strong at 42.53 percent. Broadband subscriptions continued to grow, reaching 92,195,937 million.
The data also revealed a prevalent reliance on 2G connections, although there has been a steady increase in 4G subscriptions. In January 2024, 2G connections accounted for 57.78 percent, while 4G subscriptions rose from 31.33 percent in December 2023 to 31.75 percent, indicating a growing preference for high-speed connectivity.
Furthermore, while still a minority, 5G subscriptions saw a slight increase, accounting for 1.11 percent of all connections in January 2024, up from 1.04 percent in December 2023.
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU), a specialized agency of the United Nations, recently drew attention to Africa’s low 5G coverage rate, which stood at only 6 percent as of December 2023. This is partly due to the continued significance of older mobile technologies, especially 2G and 3G networks, across the continent.
The ITU report emphasized the persistent use of 2G and 3G networks in many African countries, including Nigeria. These legacy technologies play a vital role in providing cost-effective mobile services, such as voice calls and text messages, particularly in areas with limited access to 4G and 5G networks.
In conclusion, Nigeria’s record-breaking data consumption and growing internet penetration signify significant advancements. However, similar to other African nations, Nigeria faces challenges in closing the digital divide and transitioning to more advanced network technologies.
