The report shows a surge in 5G subscriptions in Nigeria, with the total number of mobile subscriptions rising to 222.80 million in November 2023.
Based on data obtained from the NCC portal, the number of 5G subscriptions was 0.96% of total mobile subscriptions (222.80 million).
Despite its reduced market share, 2G still controlled 59.32% (132.17 million).
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3G is on a steady decline, having only 9.81% (21.86 million) of the mobile subscriptions market while the 4G market share in November was 29.91% (66.64 million).
Though 5G was launched in Nigeria in September 2022, it officially began its journey in 2019.
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At the launch of the first 5G network, which was by MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, the firm’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “5G will change everything.
It will allow us to connect, create, collaborate, and compete in ways we cannot imagine yet.
Since then, Airtel Nigeria and Mafab Communications have also launched their own 5G networks.
The NCC recently disclosed that the 5G network has gotten to about 30 cities in Nigeria.
Still Grappling With 5G
The Executive Commissioner, of Technical Standard, Ubale Maska, at a recent event, said, “Nigeria is still grappling with 5G”.
“I can say that the network is still in less than 30 cities in the country. So, we still have a long way to go.”
“But we have strategies to deploy the service in Nigeria. 4G LTE has not even covered the entire country.”
Despite the initial optimism, 5G is not expected to dominate the network scene in Nigeria anytime soon.
Meanwhile, 4G is expected to account for the largest portion of mobile subscriptions in the country and across Africa, Up until 2029.
5G already accounts for over one billion mobile subscriptions in the world, but Africa remains behind.
The Minister of Communications, Innovations, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, opined that the lack of infrastructure was slowing down 5G growth in Nigeria.
He said: “The infrastructure that drives 5G is not something that is across the nation”.
