Nigeria 5G connections rose 41% in one year, reaching 4.61% of mobile connections as 4G expanded and older networks lost ground

Nigeria’s 5G connections rose by 40.98 per cent in the year to June 2026, according to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), as mobile users increasingly shifted towards faster and higher-capacity network technologies.

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The NCC data showed that 5G accounted for 4.61 per cent of Nigeria’s mobile connections in June 2026, up from 3.27 per cent in July 2025.

The increase represents a gain of 1.34 percentage points over the 12-month period and makes 5G the fastest-growing of the four network technologies tracked by the telecoms regulator.

Although 5G still represents a relatively small portion of the market, the pace of growth highlights a gradual but significant transformation in Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape.

4G remained the dominant technology, accounting for 54.31 per cent of mobile connections in June, compared with 51.22 per cent a year earlier.

That represents a 6.03 per cent increase and a 3.09 percentage-point rise in market share.

The stronger performance of 4G and 5G came as older network technologies continued to lose ground.

3G recorded the sharpest decline, with its share falling from 7.13 per cent in July 2025 to 4.86 per cent in June 2026.

That represents a 31.84 per cent decline and a loss of 2.27 percentage points.

2G also declined, although more gradually. Its share fell from 38.38 per cent to 36.22 per cent over the same period, representing a 5.63 per cent reduction.

Taken together, 4G and 5G accounted for 58.92 per cent of Nigeria’s mobile connections in June, compared with 54.49 per cent a year earlier.

Conversely, 2G and 3G accounted for 41.08 per cent, down from 45.51 per cent in July 2025.

The figures point to a structural shift in the market rather than simply an increase in the number of mobile users. Newer network technologies are gradually replacing connections previously served by legacy systems.

The transition is taking place across a huge subscriber base. NCC data showed that Nigeria’s four major operators collectively had about 192 million subscribers in June 2026.

MTN Nigeria remained the largest operator with 98.64 million subscribers, representing 51.38 per cent of the market.

Airtel Nigeria followed with 66.12 million subscribers and a 34.44 per cent share, while Globacom recorded 23.68 million subscribers, equivalent to 12.34 per cent.

9mobile, identified as T2 in the NCC data, had 3.54 million subscribers and a 1.84 per cent market share.

The increasing adoption of 5G comes as telecom operators continue to invest in network infrastructure and capacity while consumers and businesses demand faster data services.

5G technology offers higher speeds, lower latency and greater capacity for connected devices, making it particularly useful for data-intensive applications.

Video streaming, cloud computing, digital payments, remote work and artificial intelligence services are among the areas expected to benefit from greater access to higher-capacity mobile networks.

For telecom operators, the transition also carries important implications for spectrum utilisation, capital expenditure and network efficiency.

Moving customers towards newer technologies can help operators handle growing data consumption while making more efficient use of network infrastructure.

However, the NCC figures also reveal the considerable challenge that remains.

Despite the rapid growth of 5G, the technology accounted for only 4.61 per cent of mobile connections in June. More than two-fifths of connections were still operating on 2G or 3G networks.

The contrasting performance of the two older technologies is particularly revealing. The sharp fall in 3G suggests that many users are moving directly towards 4G and, increasingly, 5G, while 2G continues to retain a substantial presence.

The continued importance of older networks reflects the diverse nature of Nigeria’s telecommunications market, where affordability, device availability, network coverage and the cost of data services can influence the pace at which consumers upgrade.

For Nigeria’s digital economy, the shift towards higher-generation networks nevertheless represents an encouraging development.

Mobile connectivity remains a crucial gateway to internet access for millions of Nigerians, making network expansion and technological upgrades important to the country’s broader digital ambitions.

The latest NCC figures therefore present a market in transition. 5G is expanding at a striking pace, 4G is consolidating its dominance, while 3G and 2G are gradually retreating.

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If the trend continues, Nigeria’s mobile landscape could become increasingly concentrated around 4G and 5G, with fifth-generation services playing a progressively larger role in the country’s digital future.