Sodeinde QuadriIn January 2024, data consumption in Nigeria soared to unprecedented levels, hitting a remarkable 721,522 terabytes, as reported by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). This marked the highest monthly data usage ever recorded in the country, surpassing the previous record set in December 2023, which stood at 713,200 terabytes.
The data, sourced from the regulator’s website on Tuesday, revealed a significant surge in active internet subscriptions, totaling 161,977,883. This figure reflected a substantial increase from the 156,244,368 subscriptions recorded in January of the preceding year.
The internet subscriptions were attributed to various service providers, including telecommunications companies (telcos), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), and fixed-line connections. Mobile subscriptions accounted for the majority, reaching 161,504,390, while ISPs (wired or wireless) recorded 213,876 subscriptions, fixed wire connections totaled 21,437, and VoIP reached 238,180.
Despite the surge in data consumption and active subscriptions, January 2024 witnessed a slight decline in internet users compared to December 2023, dropping from 163.8 million to 161.9 million, according to NCC data. Nonetheless, internet penetration remained robust at 42.53%, with broadband subscriptions totaling 92,195,937 million.
The data further highlighted the prevailing dominance of 2G connections, although there has been a steady increase in the proportion of 4G subscriptions. In January 2024, 2G connections accounted for 57.78% of the market share, while 4G subscriptions increased from 31.33% in December 2023 to 31.75%, indicating a growing preference for high-speed connectivity.
Additionally, 5G subscriptions showed a slight uptick, accounting for 1.11% of all connections in Nigeria in January 2024, up from 1.04% recorded in December 2023. However, despite this modest increase, Africa maintained the lowest 5G coverage rate globally, standing at only 6% as of December 2023, according to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), a specialized agency of the United Nations.
The ITU report highlighted the persistent reliance on older mobile technologies, particularly 2G and 3G networks, across Africa, including Nigeria. These legacy technologies continue to play a vital role in delivering essential mobile services, such as voice calls and text messages, especially in regions with limited access to 4G and 5G networks.
In summary, while Nigeria experiences unprecedented growth in data consumption and internet subscriptions, the country, like much of Africa, grapples with the ongoing significance of older mobile technologies amidst the global transition to higher-speed connectivity options.
