Nigeria’s 5G adoption surged 41 per cent in the year to June 2026, signalling a gradual shift towards faster mobile networks as users move away from older technologies.
Fifth-generation mobile technology delivers faster speeds, lower latency, and greater capacity for connected devices. Still, adoption has struggled because it requires operators to invest more in spectrum, network equipment and infrastructure.
Data from the Nigerian Communications Commission, the industry regulator, showed that 5G’s share of mobile connections increased to 4.61 per cent in June 2026 from 3.27 per cent in July 2025, representing a 40.98 per cent increase over the 12 months.
The increase of 1.34 percentage points in 5G’s share came as the broader mobile market continued to migrate towards higher-capacity networks, with 4G also gaining ground while the shares of 3G and 2G declined during the period.
The figures point to a structural change in the composition of Nigeria’s mobile connections, rather than simply an expansion in the overall subscriber base, as newer technologies gradually capture connections previously served by legacy networks.
4G remained the dominant technology during the period, with its share rising to 54.31 per cent in June 2026 from 51.22 per cent in July 2025, representing growth of 6.03 per cent and an increase of 3.09 percentage points.
