More Nigerians are opting for 4G network despite the rollout of the faster 5G network, PM News has learnt.
Recent data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) shows that as of June 2025, 4G makes up about 50.29% of all mobile connections in the country.
This confirms that 4G is still the most widely used mobile network.
The strong presence of 4G is due to continuous efforts by telecom companies to expand coverage.
Many Nigerians prefer 4G because it provides faster and more reliable internet, which is important for watching videos, using smartphones, and accessing online services.
While 2G and 3G networks are still in use, fewer people are depending on them.
Despite the growth in 4G coverage, many Nigerians still experience poor connection quality.
A recent report from Opensignal ranked Nigeria very low globally in both access to 4G and 5G, and in 4G download speeds. This means that although coverage has increased, many users, especially in rural areas, continue to face slow internet.
Meanwhile, 5G is progressing very slowly. By May 2025, only 2.93% of users had switched to 5G, a small increase from 2.81% in April.
This is almost three years after 5G was officially launched in the country. The three companies licensed to run 5G MTN, Mafab Communications, and Airtel paid more than $820 million for their licenses.
Several challenges have made it hard for 5G to grow quickly in Nigeria. Building the necessary infrastructure, such as towers and fiber-optic lines, requires heavy investment.
Most Nigerians also cannot afford 5G-enabled phones or the higher-cost data plans. Additionally, the process of assigning radio frequencies for 5G has been slow, and the cost of running 5G networks is high.
Even with these challenges, 4G has already brought major changes to Nigeria’s digital economy. It has supported the growth of online businesses, transportation and delivery services, and mobile banking.
The telecom industry continues to play a key role in the country’s economic development by enabling digital services across different sectors.
Industry experts believe that 4G will remain the most common mobile network in Nigeria and across Sub-Saharan Africa for the foreseeable future. It is expected to reach around 50% adoption in the region by the year 2030.
