Analysis of NCC’s industry statistics as of June 2025 shows that Nigeria recorded 2,092.86% 5G growth in the last one year, increasing from 0.14 per cent recorded in June 2024 to 3.07 per cent in 2025.

However, despite its upward curve, 5G still lags far behind 4G, which continues to dominate the market, while legacy 2G and 3G networks remain surprisingly resilient.

Nigeria’s three licensed and active 5G operators are MTN, Airtel, and Mafab Communications. MTN pioneered the rollout in September 2022, Airtel followed in June 2023, while Mafab began deploying its services later that year.

Although all three have continued expanding coverage, adoption has been sluggish, hindered largely by the high cost of 5G-enabled devices and the significant expenses of infrastructure deployment.

The Numbers Behind the Shift

5G: Market share climbed from 0.96% in Nov 2023 to 3.07% by Jun 2025, more than tripling in 19 months.

4G: The clear leader, rising from 29.91% in Nov 2023 to 50.80% in Jun 2025, now accounting for half of all connections in Nigeria.

2G: Declined steadily from 59.32% in Nov 2023 to 38.47% in Jun 2025, but still represents nearly 4 in 10 connections.

3G: Fell modestly from 9.90% in Nov 2023 to 7.66% in Jun 2025, as users migrate to 4G and 5G.

Trend Analysis

5G’s Growth: Uptake is encouraging but slow, limited by device affordability, coverage gaps, and rollout costs. Moving from under 1% in 2023 to just over 3% in mid-2025 shows progress, but mass adoption remains distant.

4G’s Dominance: Its rise past the 50% mark in May 2025 underscores Nigeria’s strong appetite for data services, as telcos aggressively expand LTE coverage and bundle affordable data plans.

2G’s Persistence: Despite rapid decline, 2G remains the fallback for voice and basic connectivity, especially in rural areas.

3G’s Decline shows the technology is losing relevance as operators and consumers leapfrog directly from 2G to 4G/5G.

What This Means for Nigeria’s Digital Future

Bridging digital divide: hence the coexistence of high 2G usage alongside growing 4G and emerging 5G highlights Nigeria’s urban-rural connectivity gap.

Government initiatives through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on spectrum allocation, infrastructure sharing, and affordable devices will be crucial to accelerate 5G uptake.

As 4G reaches maturity, operators will need to position 5G as a mass-market service, not just a premium urban option.

Wider 5G adoption could unlock opportunities in fintech, e-health, IoT, and smart cities, but only if rollout challenges are addressed.

While Nigeria’s 5G journey is gathering pace, the NCC statistics reveal that the country is still firmly a 4G nation, with 2G lingering as a legacy safety net.

The next two years will be critical in determining whether 5G remains a niche service or becomes the backbone of Nigeria’s digital economy.

The power of 5G lies in its ability to transform industries and user experiences through its core features such as ultra-fast speeds, low latency, massive Device connectivity, improved network capacity, network slicing, enhanced mobile broadband, energy efficiency, amongst others.

Ultimately, the combination of speed, low latency, and high reliability empowers the automation of factories, remote management of critical infrastructure, and smart logistics.

This transformation, often called Industry 4.0, will revolutionize manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and other industries by enabling real-time data exchange and automation on a large scale.

Thus, 5G is much more than just faster internet—it is the foundation for a smarter, more connected world with wide-ranging applications across various sectors, from healthcare and transportation to entertainment and smart cities.

These are the features that make 5G outstanding when compared to 4G/LTE.

Thus, Enextgen Wireless conducted its National Independent Wireless Broadband Quality Reporting (NIWBQR) data collection in Victoria Island that covers MTN and Airtel 5G coverage, while dismissing Mafab’s as ‘too restrictive to be relevant…”

More so, the survey covered 4G LTE footprints for the mobile network operators including Globacom while 9mobile was missing [Visit the website here for details].

Details of the survey findings are shown below:

4G LTE Throughput following data collected on Victoria Island on August 30, 2024:

4G LTE Downlink Throughput August 30, 2024 (by subscription)

See details here.

4G LTE Packet Latency based on Dbata collected on Victoria Island on August 30, 2024

4G LTE Ping Results, August 30, 2024

5G NR Throughput

Data collected on Victoria Island on August 30, 2024. Only MTN and Airtel offer mobile 5G service to the public. In this survey, MTN provides larger 5G footprint than Airtel. Mafab’s offer of 5G is too restrictive to be relevant to our purpose of evaluating public mobile internet access.

5G NR Downlink Throughput August 30, 2024

NIWBQR Ranking

NIWBQR is Enextgen Wireless’ flagship National Independent Wireless Broadband Quality Reporting.

It ranks 4G LTE and 5G NR networks based on the quality of RF coverage and other selected KPIs.

Historical comparison

Commenting on the report, Engineer Remi Adeyeye, President/CEO Enextgen Inc., said:

“We have a platform for evaluating basic functionality of mobile broadband networks in Nigeria

“MNOs can use it to audit the quality of the networks deployed for them by their vendors.

“NCC can use it to set target KPIs for mobile broadband.

“Academic institutions can use it to provide training in some practical aspects of the deployment of mobile networks.

“For public visualization, visit here. All logged data are available for use in improving network quality. Contact us at marketing@enextwireless.com for further discussion”.

Mafab Communications is one of the three firms that won the bid for the 5G 3.5GHz Spectrum license in Nigeria.

The Commission, in a statement signed by Reuben Muoka, Director, Public Affairs at the NCC, said they have continued to monitor the progress of rollout by MAFAB and has been regularly briefed about the status of infrastructure deployment for service offerings as conditioned in its operating licence.

The statement reads:

“The attention of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been drawn to some misleading comments on social media which falsely claimed that ‘MAFAB Communications, one of the companies granted Fifth Generation (5G) licences by the Commission is yet to roll out the service, nearly two years after obtaining a licence, and one year after the roll-out date’.

For a fact, MAFAB Communications is one of the two successful companies that won a 5G Licence during the globally-acclaimed transparent 5G Auction conducted by the Commission on December 13, 2021.

Upon fulfilling the condition of payment for the fee of $273.6 million in February 2022, the company formally received the licence on February 22, 2022.

Consequent upon the issuance of the 5G licence, and in line with the rollout conditions, MAFAB publicly launched its services in Abuja on January 24, 2023, and in Lagos on January 26, 2023. At launch, the services were targeted at six cities – Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Kaduna.

The Commission has continued to monitor the progress of rollout by MAFAB and has been regularly briefed about the status of infrastructure deployment for service offerings as conditioned in its operating licence.

The public and all stakeholders should ignore the false and misleading information concerning the 5G rollout by MAFAB”.

Recall that on January 24, 2023, Mafab Communications, in Abuja, rolled out its services. The company also used the opportunity of the launch of its 5G services to unveil a brand-new logo for the company which it said heralds the dawn of a new era of infinite possibilities which the technology offers.

Figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that the sector recorded a 4.3  per cent increase from its performance in the last quarter of 2022 when it recorded 13.55  per cent.

When compared on a year-on-year basis, the growth showed a positive progression from 12.94  per cent  in the first quarter of 2022 , to the 2023 figure of 14.13, which is an approximate growth of 9.19  per cent.

The percentage of telecom contribution to GDP was calculated from 46 distinct sectors of the economy, which constitute telecom and information services baskets.

The Nigerian telecom industry has continued its show of positive outlook, which is credited to the innovative and predictable telecom regulatory environment promoted, and implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

One of the key highlights of the telecom industry performance within the period was the generation of $820.8 million for the federal government from 5G spectrum licences fees paid by three eventual winning operators, MTN, MAFAB and Airtel.

Following the issuance of the licences in December 2021 to MTN and MAFAB, both companies have launched 5G services. Airtel, which received its licence in December 2022, is set to launch services this month, June 2023.

Another major development in the sector was the launch of Starlinks broadband services, a satellite-based wireless broadband services with potential nationwide coverage.

This followed the issuance of licence to Elon Musk-owned SpaceX by the Commission. The services are now available in different parts of the country.

Meanwhile, the growth statistics of the telecom industry are showing an impressive record of contributions to the economy.

The number of phone subscribers as at April 2023, stood at 223.6 million subscribers, scoring a teledensity of 117 per cent.

Internet subscribers for the same period were 157 million while Broadband subscriptions stood at 92 million, translating to 48 per cent broadband penetration in the country.

Its entrance into the scene is still a surprise to many, if you followed the news during 5G license auction process in 2021/2022.

Now, the company which secured 5G license alongside MTN Nigeria last year; has within a space of 48-hours (this January) unveiled 5G network services in Abuja and Lagos.

So, today at the event in Lagos, a question was asked relating to how MCom secured the 0801 number plan from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in readiness for its voice call service launch. 0801 looks quite unique, isn’t it? Oh, how come it has been there, whereas the number series from 0802 to 0809, have been allocated?

The team from MCom tried to explain this. But some people appeared not satisfied. In fact, someone in the audience joked about it being a ‘secret number’. You know, conspiracy theories are not peculiar to the political gladiators.

Well, it is no secret. TechEconomy traced how MCom came about the 0801 number plan:

Background: ‘NCC Recalls 41.2 Million Inactive Lines’.

Around July 22 2020 this was the headline widely reported in the media; that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has withdrawn some 41,240,448 million lines that have been left inactive or unused by telecommunications licencees across 36 states of the country over the years following an audit conducted.

This was contained in the newly published National Numbering Plan Second Quarter, 2020 in which NCC okayed 37 telecommunications service providers as officially operating in the telecom space.

The breakdown showed that the Nigerian telecommunications industry had 33,749,000 lines withdrawn while 7,491,448 lines were returned by the former users with effect from June 19, 2020.

NCC had earlier issued a Draft Final Report on the Development of New Number Plan.

The Withdrawn/Returned numbers were part of the Commission’s “regular audit in order to ascertain the level of utilisation of numbers assigned to operators.”

The phone lines were inactive, dormant or no longer in use by the assigned telecommunication operators. Many of the telecom licencees were either no longer in operation or have had the initial demands for the lines.

According to data made available by the Commission on its website, the licencees who had their lines withdrawn include ABG Communications Limited (10,000) for Abuja; Akklaim Telecoms Limited for Abuja (20,000) and Kano (10,000); Allied Bond Standard Coy Ltd (10,000) for Lagos; Alpha Wireless Limited (5,000) for Warri; Bell & Bell (10,000) for Jos.

Others are: BIG Communications Ltd (10,000) Makurdi; Broadband Technologies Ltd (10,000) Lagos; Cecil-Dolton Nigeria Ltd Lagos (8,000); Chromecomm Ltd (formerly Monarch Communications Ltd) Lagos (15,000), Abuja (5,000) and Port Harcourt (5,000); Cyancomm Ltd (formerly MTS 1st Wireless Ltd) Lagos (100,000), Ibadan (10,000), Abuja (20,000), Abeokuta (5,000), Onitsha (10,000), Aba (10,000), Port Harcourt (20,000).

NCC withdrew from Digital Telecoms Nig Ltd Lagos (6,000); Disc Communications Ltd Lagos (7,000) and Port Harcourt (3,000); Electronics Comms. Inc., Lagos (70,000); Eltel Communications Lagos (5,000); EM-International Systems Ltd Lagos (10,000); Envision Global Reach Nig. Ltd, Abuja (5,000); Fybertel Comms. (Nigeria) Ltd, Lagos (10,000); GiCell Wireless Ltd, Ibadan (20,000), Ilorin (20,000), Yola (20,000), Maiduguri (20,000), Calabar (20,000); Horizons Broadcasting & Telecoms, Kano (2,000).

Also withdrawn lines came from Imperial Telecoms Ltd, Lagos, (10,000); Independent National Electoral Commission, Abuja (10,000); Integrated Mobile Services, Lagos (10,000), Abuja (10,000); Integrated Wireles Tech Nig. Ltd, Lagos (5,000); Magenta Communications Ltd Onitsha (5,000), Port Harcourt (5,000); Mobitel Limited, Lagos (10,000), Abuja (10,000), Warri (10,000) and Port Harcourt (10,000); M-Tel Communications Limited, National (27,500); Multi-Links Telecommunications Ltd, Lagos (400,000), Ibadan (60,000), Abuja (50,000), Ilorin (20,000), Oshogbo (10,000), Ile-Ife (20,000), Ijebu-Ode (15,000), Abeokuta (10,000), National 11,000,000); Multiple Services Ltd, Lagos (10,000); and NAVAO Ltd, Lagos (10,000).

Also, withdrawn were lines from Odu’a Telecoms Limited, Omar Communications Limited, Orprah Communications Ltd, Peace Global Satellite Communications Ltd, Prest Cable& Satellite TV Sys Ltd, Q-Voda Telecom, Rainbownet Ltd, Regal Telecom Ltd, Royal Strides Telecom Ltd, Sadasa Communications Ltd, Shell Petroleum Dev Coy of Nig Ltd, Sky Broadband Ventures Ltd (formerly Direct On PC), Skyview-O Nig Ltd, Syntel I.G. Wills Communications, Starcomms Plc, Startech Connections (Witel Ltd), Sunmail Telecoms, T-Comms Nig. Ltd, TELCO Africa Ltd, Telefonics Networks (thorst) Ltd, Topcom Nig Ltd, Vitel Wireless, WAK Telecommunications Ltd, Webcom Ltd, Wideways Nig Ltd, Wireless Telecoms Ltd, Woldscope Ventures Ltd, XPT Link Ltd, Yemshba Investment Ltd, and Zoom Mobile (Reliance Telecom Ltd).

In summary, Mcom applied for numbering range; 0801 happens to be available. The number range, according to TechEconomy findings, was earlier allocated to Megatech Engineering Limited for national coverage for a total of 2,000,000 users. But since it has been inactive, NCC had to reallocate it to MCom.

MTN and Mafab, in December 2021, won the 3.5GHz Spectrum band for the 5G license and NCC gave both operators up till August 24 to rollout 5G technology services across the country.

TechEconomy understands that Mafab only has frequency licence and does not have operational licence and it needs to apply for a telecom operational licence to enable it roll out 5G services 

But in a recent statement, Mafab said it has been issued a five-month extension following the delays in receiving its unified operational license (USAL) and numbering plan, which did not happen until the end of July.

“We are fully committed to bringing the benefits of 5G services to Nigerians and deploying a network that will drive economic development with increased broadband capabilities nationwide,” Musbahu Bashir, chairman, Mafab Communications Limited, was quoted as saying.

“I have no doubt that the service will help deliver improvements in the fields of education, business, smart cities, and entertainment.

“The goal remains to launch before the 5-month extension period, and we will be sharing more information in the near future.”

This was preceded by the auction of 3.5 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which attracted the rave review of the industry watchers.

Yet, there are few outstanding features of the auction, hitherto unknown, that made it hugely exceptional, especially when compared with the record breaking Digital Mobile Licence (DML) of 2001 when MTN and Econet Wireless (now Airtel) paid $285 million each for the auction exercise conducted in January, 2001.

Now, here are eight (8) things you may not know about the NCC’s 3.5Ghz Spectrum Auction:

1. Nigeria Retains Flagship Position in Africa

Nigeria surprised its peers in Africa when it emerged the first country to seize the bull by the horn with 5G trial in November, 2019.

The 3.5GHz spectrum auction and the transparent process confirmed the nation’s enviable position as the number one pacesetter of telecommunications development in Africa.

The auction, no doubt, has, in no small measure, placed the NCC and the country in general on the global arena for being the first country in Africa to have successfully conducted a 5G Auction in the C-band.

2. Why 3.5 GHz auction Fetched More Revenue than DML of 2001?

The 2001 DML auction, whose bid price of $285 million covered both the operating licence and auction licence for the operators, and it was for a period of 15 years. The actual price minus that of the operational licence was 282,675, 458.21 USD.

This is why the recently-conducted auction of 3.5 gigahertz (Ghz) spectrum for deployment of impending 5G network in the country, under the leadership of Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta is considered to have edged it in terms of revenue generation for the Federal Government

In the successful and transparent auction, three qualified bidders, MTN, Airtel and Mafab engaged in the competitive auction exercise but MTN and Mafab emerged the winners of the two slots of spectrum bands offered for sale in the 2.Ghz spectrum band.

Thus each slot of the recently-auctioned 3.5Ghz Spectrum went for $273.6 million. And since it’s for 10 years, it’s safe to say that each slot has fetched 84, 549,694 USD more than the DML auction which could only generate 188,450,305 USD for 10 years.

3. Exceeding reserved price

The was palpable concern that Nigeria may end up like other countries with ignominy of seeing their spectrum returned unsold because the price was not within the reach of their operators.

To the light of the Federal Government, the Auction winning price didn’t only exceed the reserve price target of $197.4 million but even rose to $273.6 million per slot (an increase of 38.6%). This has increased the revenue generation of the Commission to the coffers of government.

Considering that the amount is just the cost of the auction and not operating licence, which also brings another stream of revenue to the Government, analysts believe the revenue the NCC has made for the Federal Government is unprecedented in the history of the Nigerian telecoms industry since liberalisation in 2001. According to them, the payment by MTN and Mafab on or before February 24, 2021, will increase the revenue generation of the Commission to the coffers of the government.

4. First Auction without External Support

It is instructive to note that one of the reasons that made the auction unique was the fact that it was the first auction held by the NCC, with the Commission relying absolutely on the available skills and resources in-house in the Commission, confirming the amount of human capital advancement of the regulator which the International telecommunication Union (ITU) is always proud of.

In other words, the auction was also the first held by the Commission using the available skills and resources in-house in the Commission without relying on external consultants.

One of the measures taken by the Danbatta-led NCC was the timely and diligent constitution of an Auction Committee by the EVC in June 2021, the subsequent development of a 5G Policy document as well as the in-house developed Information Memorandum (IM) document for the auction of the 3.5GHz Spectrum band.

The successful spectrum auction as also achieved by the Commission through the active support of the Board and Management of the Commission to the auction Committee members including the members of the secretariat.

Based on the transparent nature of the auction, leveraging a credible software application by technical partners, the auction process has, in no small measure, placed the Commission and the country in general on the global arena for being the first country in Africa to have successfully conducted a 5G auction in the C-band.

The effective and efficient rules used for the auction, as presented in the Information Memorandum (IM) document, were developed fully in-house by the Commission’s inaugurated Auction committee members.

5. First to Witness 11 Rounds

It is interesting to note that the auction was the first major software-based auction conducted by the Commission and was the first time that an auction conducted by the Commission went up to 11 rounds, due to its competitive nature, ensuring that the government got maximum value from the sales of the spectrum band.

6. Preffered Lot Determined by Fresh Bidding Process

Another interesting part is that, in line with the processes outlined in the IM, the provisional bidding processes determined who got what in terms of slots. While Mafab was ready to outbid the incumbent operators, it surprisingly conceded the targeted slot to MTN, Nigeria.

“MTN Communications Nigeria Plc made an offer of $15,900,000 for the assignment of a preferred Lot, while Mafab Communications Limited made an offer of $11,120,000 for a preferred Lot. Thence, MTN Communications Nigeria Plc, having made the highest offer was given the right to select its most preferred Lot and it selected Lot 1 (3500-3600 MHz), while Lot 2 (3700-3800 MHz) is consequentially assigned to Mafab Communications Limited at no extra cost,” explained Prof. Umar Danbatta, executive Vice Chairman, while declaring the winners at the December 31, 2021 auction exercise.

7. First Time of Electronic Sweeping to eschew bugging

Little surprise that the auction has been adjudged to be highly transparent by all observers, including the participant that did not win at the end.

This was the first time that an electronic sweeping of the auction rooms was conducted in order to ensure that the process was not compromised by any electronic interference.

In addition to this, anti-corruption agency including the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence Commission (ICPC) and other interest groups such as the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), among several other stakeholders invited to witness and monitor the auction process. The transparency of the auction was further boosted by the live broadcast of the process to the general public.

8. Loser commends NCC for transparency

This and other successful measures put in place by the NCC attracted approval of the stakeholders in the industry.

For instance, reacting to the auction exercise, the Group Chief Executive Offer of Airtel Africa, Segun Ogunsanya, whose Nigerian operation (Airtel Nigeria) did not win, commended the NCC ‘for a transparent 5G auction completed on December 13, 2021., adding that Airtel will continue to closely track the 5G ecosystem over the next several years, in particular the availability of affordable 5G devices and relevant use cases.

Prof. Umar Danbatta, the executive vice chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO), also received the Public Officer of the Decade Award.

According to Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, director, Public Affairs at NCC, the combined awards to the Commission and Prof. Danbatta, issued on the heels of a public lecture, titled, Public Sector Financing: The Oil Revenue, Challenges, Solutions and Prospects, eloquently expressed the significance of telecom sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s economy.

Noteworthy is telecoms’ 12.45 per cent contribution to the nation’s GDP in 2020, which was central and pivotal in taking the nation out of recession.

The awards by Nigerian NewsDirect were presented just two days ago at an impressive event at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, organised by the firm to commemorate its 11th Anniversary.

As indicated, the presentation of the awards was preceded by the Nigerian NewsDirect anniversary public lecture, Delivered by Dapo Okubadejo, Ogun State Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor.

Okubadejo’s paper reflects essentially on the increasing challenges of the nation’s dependence on oil revenues for public sector financing.

The paper offers solutions to better public sector financing from the context refocusing on the opportunities and prospects inherent in the oil sector but particularly in other sectors.

By sheer coincidence, or conscious contextual social intervention, the topic of the Lecture and its treatment were not just poignant reflections of the state of the economy, they were fluent and persuasive of the role of NCC in midwifing and enabling the utilisation of telecoms and ICTs applications for economic recovery and growth.

A fact that gives concrete expression to the imperative of diversification of the nation’s economy from oil, which is being vigorously pursued by the Federal Government and which NCC is a key sectoral driver.

Thankfully, the role NCC is mandated to play in enhancing Nigeria’s growth and development is not lost on its Management.

This strategic role and commitment to it, was emphasised by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC’s Director Public Affairs, who received the awards on behalf of the Commission and the EVC/CEO.

Adinde, while conveying NCC and Danbatta ‘s gratitude for the award, said the Commission will not rest on its oars but rededicate itself towards demonstrating its worthiness of the public trust and confidence reposed in it as an agency central to rediversification of the nation’s economy.

These garlands, swelling the repository of awards to NCC would not surprise discerning watchers of national events.

In November 2021, the Commission led by Danbatta conducted a historic auction of the 3.5GHz spectrum, in preparation for the deployment of 5G services to be activated this year.

It was not the first time NCC will conduct an auction but it was the first time it had completed an auction with the final bid ending at a price more than 30 percent higher than initial bid offer.

The auction, which started with initial offer of $197.4 million, close after 11 rounds at $273.6 million.

Two companies, Mafab Communications and MTN Nigeria Plc, won the bid.

Besides it routine activities, just a forthnight ago, the EVC delivered the Convocation Lecture of the Fountain University, at Osogbo, where he emphasised the imperative of youth’s embrace and exploration of the opportunities the ICT revolution has offered them to contribute to the nations growth and development.

Similarly, just a day after the Convocation Lecture, a digital training centre, facilitated by the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), an arm of NCC, was commissioned at Ijesa Muslim Grammar School, Ilesha, Osun State.

The foregoing shows that the Commission is unwavering in its commitment to expanding the nation’s frontiers of growth and development within the context of its mandate.

Many individuals (including Mr. Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Elumelu Foundation; and Ken Nnamani, President of ATCON); corporate organisations (including Ecobank, Chevron, and Polaris Bank); and State Governments (including Osun, Ogun and Benue) received various categories of awards.