The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has released new data revealing a concerning trend in the adoption of 5G technology in Nigeria. With only 3% of the internet subscriber base utilizing this ultrafast network, the country lags significantly behind global standards. The source notes that this slow uptake could hinder Nigeria's digital transformation efforts.
5G Network Adoption in Nigeria
As of now, just over 4 million users in Nigeria are connected to the 5G network, a stark contrast to the global figure of over 1,5 billion 5G connections reported by the end of 2023. This highlights Nigeria's struggle to keep pace with the fastest-growing mobile broadband technology worldwide.
Shift from 2G to 4G
The NCC's report further indicates that 4G has now surpassed 2G as the leading mobile technology in Nigeria, with 4G accounting for 44.96% of connections compared to 43.53% for 2G. Despite this progress, the slow uptake of 5G is primarily attributed to high device costs and significant infrastructure challenges, which pose risks to the country's economic growth and technological development.
In light of the recent challenges highlighted in the adoption of 5G technology in Nigeria, the Central Bank of Nigeria has decided to maintain its interest rate at 27%. For more details, see more.
