Nigeria’s internet consumption reached a record high of 1.24 million terabytes in November 2025, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reported, highlighting the country’s growing reliance on digital connectivity for business, education, and entertainment.
The figure marks a slight increase from 1.235 million terabytes recorded in October, reflecting a steady upward trend fueled by expanding mobile broadband access and rising demand for data services.
Analysts attributed the growth to increased smartphone penetration, wider 3G and 4G network coverage, limited 5G rollout in major cities, and Nigerians’ growing appetite for video streaming, online learning, social media, and remote work platforms.
Broadband penetration in the country climbed to 50.58 percent in November, up from 45.61 percent in January 2025. However, the figure remains below the 70 percent target set under the National Broadband Plan (2020–2025), which officially expires this month.
Nigeria currently has approximately 109 million broadband subscriptions, but sector growth remains uneven due to infrastructure gaps, high deployment costs, and regulatory bottlenecks.
Frequent vandalism of fibre-optic cables, which causes an estimated 30 to 43 network outages daily, and high right-of-way charges in some states have disrupted service delivery and discouraged investment.
Despite these challenges, investments in the National Communications Backbone and private-sector infrastructure projects have improved connectivity, particularly in previously underserved communities.
The NCC emphasized that continued investment in mobile networks and broadband infrastructure, coupled with stronger collaboration between government, regulators, and private operators, is critical to achieving universal broadband access and unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s digital economy.
