By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) reports that monthly mobile data usage increased by approximately 140 per cent between January 2023 and November 2025, amid industry challenges.
The NCC, in its New Year message, stated that monthly mobile data usage increased from approximately 518,000 terabytes to over 1.23 million terabytes during the period under review.
The commission noted that the increase is not without challenges, warning that rising demand is placing increased pressure on networks.
It acknowledged that many consumers still experience inconsistent service quality, congestion in busy locations, outages linked to power challenges and infrastructure damage, as well as slow complaint resolution.
“Operators, in turn, continue to face deep-rooted challenges, including rising operating costs, energy and logistics constraints, right-of-way issues, and persistent vandalism and theft of telecommunications infrastructure.
“These realities affect both the pace of expansion and the quality of service delivery,” the commission said.
The NCC also stated that Nigeria’s broadband subscriptions increased by six per cent from 96.3 million in December 2024 to 109.6 million in December 2025.
It attributed the progress across the sector to renewed investment momentum and expanded network deployment.
“Over the year, operators deployed over 2,800 new and upgraded sites, strengthening both coverage and capacity nationwide.
“As a result, broadband subscriptions grew by 6 per cent from about 96.3 million to over 109.6 million from December 2024 to December 2025, lifting broadband penetration from 44.43 per cent to 50.58 per cent today,” the regulator stated.
The commission noted that while network performance is not yet optimal in all locations, notable improvements were recorded over the year.
The NCC said median 4G mobile download speeds increased by about 24 per cent, rising from approximately 16 megabits per second (Mbps) to 20 Mbps, while average 4G download speeds rose by 18 per cent from about 28 Mbps to 33 Mbps.
The agency noted that 4G remains the dominant broadband technology in Nigeria, accounting for about 52 per cent of mobile connections, making it the clearest reflection of the everyday experience of most users.
The NCC assured that in 2026, Nigerians will see better voice quality and more consistent data performance, fewer avoidable service disruptions, quicker restoration during outages, and prompt refunds for failed recharges.
It also added other expectations to include simpler and more transparent tariffs, a safer and more resilient internet ecosystem, and continued network expansion, particularly in underserved and unserved communities.
The commission said its regulatory focus in 2026 will be driven by outcomes that directly affect consumers, delivered through clear rules, active monitoring, and consistent enforcement.
On quality of service and network resilience, the NCC said it will deepen QoS monitoring, strengthen major incident reporting and drive measures to improve network availability, especially in high-traffic areas and persistent black spots.
