Fourth-generation (4G) networks now carry the majority of Nigeria’s mobile traffic, underscoring a gradual shift by consumers away from older technologies toward faster and more reliable data services, according to new data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The regulator’s latest industry statistics show that 4G accounted for 51.99 per cent of total mobile subscriptions in November, up slightly from 51.77 per cent in October, cementing its position as the country’s dominant access technology. Legacy networks continued to lose ground, while fifth-generation (5G) services, though still a small part of the market, recorded the fastest growth.
Second-generation (2G) connections declined marginally to 38.29 per cent in November from 38.40 per cent in October, extending a slow but steady retreat of older voice-centric networks. Third-generation (3G) subscriptions also fell, slipping to 6.13 per cent from 6.34 per cent over the same period.
By contrast, 4G usage increased by 0.22 percentage points month-on-month, supported by rising smartphone adoption, wider network coverage and growing demand for data-intensive services. Fifth-generation networks expanded to 3.60 per cent of subscriptions in November from 3.49 per cent in October, reflecting accelerating uptake at the high end of the market despite their limited overall scale.
Year-on-year data point to a more pronounced structural shift in Nigeria’s telecoms landscape. In November 2023, 4G represented 47.09 per cent of mobile connections, indicating that its share has risen by nearly five percentage points over the past year, equivalent to growth of about 10.4 per cent.
Over the same period, 2G usage declined from 41.50 per cent to 38.29 per cent, a year-on-year drop of roughly 7.7 per cent, while 3G fell sharply from 9.03 per cent to 6.13 per cent, representing a contraction of about 32 per cent.
Fifth-generation services recorded the strongest growth, increasing from 2.39 per cent in November 2024 to 3.60 per cent in November 2025, a rise of more than 50 per cent year-on-year. Despite the rapid expansion, 5G remains a small fraction of total mobile connections.
The NCC data suggest Nigeria is steadily transitioning toward higher-capacity networks, driven by rising demand for video streaming, digital payments, online education and remote work. While 2G remains important for basic services and rural connectivity, its declining share points to gradual replacement. The sharper fall in 3G usage indicates that both operators and consumers are increasingly bypassing intermediate technologies in favour of 4G and, increasingly, 5G.
