In recent years, the use of smartphones has become increasingly popular across the globe.
Nigeria is no exception to this trend. With a population of over 200 million, the country is currently experiencing a surge in smartphone usage. In this statistical analysis, we will examine the growth rate of smartphones in Nigeria and explore the impact that this growth is having on the country.
First, let’s look at the numbers. According to a report by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), there were 227.1 million active phone lines in Nigeria as of February 2023. Of these, 156.9 million were active internet subscription. This represents a mobile penetration rate of over 94%. This high level of mobile penetration is largely due to the widespread adoption of smartphones in Nigeria.
The growth rate of smartphones in Nigeria has been staggering. In 2015, only 10% of the Nigerian population had access to a smartphone. By 2020, this number rose to 39.5%. This represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32.5%. With this growth rate, it is expected that smartphone penetration in Nigeria will reach 55.4% by 2025.
Impact on the economy
The growth of the telecommunications industry in Nigeria has had a significant impact on the economy. The industry has provided job opportunities for Nigerians and has contributed to the growth of the country’s GDP.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the telecommunications industry has contributed over 13.55% to Nigeria’s GDP in as of Q4 2022.
One of the biggest impacts of smartphone growth in Nigeria is the increase in internet usage. With access to smartphones, Nigerians are able to connect to the internet more easily and conveniently. This has led to a rise in online activities such as social media usage, online shopping, and streaming of music and videos.
Impact on E-commerce
The growth of the industry has also led to the rise of e-commerce in Nigeria. With the widespread use of smartphones, more people are now able to access the internet and conduct online transactions. This has led to the growth of e-commerce businesses, creating more job opportunities and contributing to economic growth.
With the rise of e-commerce and online business, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are able to reach a wider audience and expand their customer base through online platforms.
Financial Inclusion
Another impact of smartphone growth in Nigeria is the increase in financial inclusion. With the rise of mobile money and digital payments, Nigerians are able to access financial services more easily through their smartphones. This has helped to reduce the number of unbanked individuals in the country and has made financial transactions more efficient and secure.
Education
Smartphone growth in Nigeria has also had a significant impact on the education sector. With access to smartphones, students are able to access online learning resources and educational apps. This has helped to bridge the gap in access to quality education between urban and rural areas in Nigeria.
Impact on society
The impact of smartphone growth rate on society in Nigeria cannot be overlooked. With the widespread use of smartphones, more people now have access to information and are able to connect with each other easily. This has led to the rise of social media and the use of social media platforms as a tool for communication and activism.
Smartphones have also contributed to the growth of the education sector in Nigeria. With the availability of e-learning platforms, students are now able to access educational resources easily. This has led to the growth of online education and has made education more accessible to everyone.
The 5G economy
Adoption of the Fifth Generation (5G) network is expected to benefit the global economy by more than $950 billion in 2030, or more than 15 per cent of the overall economic impact of mobile.
Of course, perseverance in technological innovation is contributing to a timely economic recovery and will continue to drive prosperity in a post pandemic era.
5G is vital to this evolution. 5G advances mobile from connecting people-to-people and people-to-information, to a unified connectivity fabric connecting people to everything.
In Nigeria, MTN has commenced commercial operations and deployed about 588 5G sites across major cities in the country since last August.
The second license ‘holder’ Mafab Communications (MCom), earlier in January, apparently to beat the deadline extension, formally unveiled its plan (but the service is yet to commence).
Airtel is still keeping its roll-out plan very close to the chest, since emerging the sole bidder in the second phase of 5G auction plan last December.
Indeed, the GSMA observed that 5G adoption continues to rise due to new network deployments and cheaper devices. As of January 2023, there were 229 commercial 5G networks around the world and over 700 5G-smartphone models had been launched, including more than 200 in 2022.
It is projected that adoption rate will be over 85 per cent, especially in some advanced countries by 2030.
From smartphones to laptops to smart glasses — 5G is at the center of seamless premium experiences for telecommunication consumers.
In conclusion, the growth of smartphones in Nigeria has had a significant impact on various sectors of the country’s economy and society. The increase in internet usage, financial inclusion, education, and e-commerce are just a few examples of the positive impacts of smartphone growth. As smartphone penetration continues to rise in Nigeria, it is expected that the country will continue to experience significant growth in a variety of sectors.
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