Data published by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) shows that Nigeria’s broadband connections have risen steadily since August 2025, mirroring the upward trend in active mobile subscriptions.
In December, broadband connections grew by 2.7% month-on-month (MoM) to 112.7 million, the fastest monthly expansion in a year. Over the 12 months from January 2025 to December 2025, broadband subscriptions increased by an average of 1.4 million per month, a significant improvement from the modest average monthly growth of 0.13 million recorded in the prior year.
The sustained rise in broadband subscriptions has directly supported the steady improvement in Nigeria’s broadband penetration rate.
Broadband penetration reached 52.0% in December 2025, up from 50.6% in the prior month and well above the 44.0% recorded in the prior year.
However, the penetration level fell short of the FG’s target of c.70% by the end of 2025 as outlined in the National Broadband Plan.
The ongoing expansion reflects the rising adoption of data-driven services, supported by increased network investments by major operators, rising demand for high-speed internet, and broader progress in digital inclusion across the country.
The shift in subscriber preferences toward higher-speed networks is increasingly evident in the evolving structure of the internet market.
During the review month, the share of users relying on legacy 2G and 3G technologies continued to contract, consistent with the gradual phase-out of older infrastructure and rising demand for faster and more reliable data connectivity.
In contrast, adoption of advanced technologies improved over the year, as 4G services now account for 52.95% of total market share, up from c.47.20% a year earlier, while 5G usage, though still at an early stage, also increased to 3.77% from 2.46% in the prior year.
Looking ahead, Quest MB’s analysts expect the migration toward broadband-centric networks to persist, supported by continued expansion of 4G coverage, accelerated rollout of 5G infrastructure, and the market’s broader shift toward faster data speeds and enhanced network efficiency (see chart below).
