More than three years after the historic commercial launch of 5G technology in Nigeria, a startling disconnect has emerged between device ownership and network availability.
A new report by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) reveals that while Nigerians have eagerly upgraded their smartphones, the infrastructure has struggled to keep pace, leaving approximately 50 percent of users with 5G-capable devices stranded without access to the high-speed network.
The document, titled “Connected but Underserved: The Signal Quality Gap,” was released as part of the Commission’s industry performance review for January 2026.
It exposes a critical utilisation gap where device adoption has significantly outstripped network rollout.
According to Edoyemi Ogoh, the NCC’s Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, this disparity means that half of the subscribers who have invested in 5G hardware since the 2022 launch are unable to tap into the service simply because coverage remains non-existent in their locations.
Currently, the 5G signal footprint covers only about 13 percent of the population, forcing the vast majority of users to rely on older 4G networks for their daily digital needs.
Beyond the 5G dilemma, the report paints a vivid picture of a digital caste system where location dictates the quality of online experience.
A stark divide exists between urban centers and rural hinterlands, with cities like Lagos and Abuja enjoying average download speeds of 35.52 Mbps, while rural communities trail behind at 27.67 Mbps.
The NCC noted that while urban connectivity is improving, some rural metrics have actually seen a decline, further widening the gap.
In terms of operator performance, MTN Nigeria which pioneered the 5G rollout in September 2022 has emerged as the dominant player in infrastructure depth, delivering the most consistent experience across web browsing and video streaming.
In contrast, while Airtel offers competitive download speeds following its 2023 entry, it shows noticeable gaps in latency.
Meanwhile, T2 Mobile (formerly 9mobile) and Globacom present a mixed bag, with both struggling to maintain consistency in high-demand scenarios like video streaming.
The NCC has signaled that these findings will not just gather dust.
Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida emphasized that the report is intended to drive transparency and compel operators to direct their substantial investments which exceeded $1 billion in 2025 toward closing these specific quality of experience gaps.