Nigeria is accelerating the shutdown of legacy 3G networks as telecom operators intensify investments in faster 4G and 5G infrastructure, while the country simultaneously strengthens its role as a regional Internet traffic hub through a new partnership with China Mobile International Limited (CMI).

Fresh data from a first-quarter 2026 telecom sector review conducted by Ookla for the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) showed that mobile operators are rapidly retiring the 900MHz 3G spectrum band and reallocating resources to 4G frequencies on the 1800MHz and 2100MHz bands.

The transition is expected to improve connectivity nationwide, especially in underserved rural communities where slow Internet speeds have long limited access to digital services such as online learning, financial technology platforms, and remote work tools.

According to the report, MTN and Airtel are leading the migration away from 3G, significantly reducing dependence on outdated spectrum infrastructure as part of broader network modernisation efforts.

Industry statistics showed that as of the first quarter of 2026, 4G accounted for 53.76 per cent of network penetration in Nigeria, followed by 2G at 36.74 per cent, 3G at 5.30 per cent, and 5G at 4.20 per cent.

However, NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, recently disclosed in Lagos that 5G penetration has already climbed to about 14 per cent, with active usage estimated at five per cent nationwide.

The report identified the n77 spectrum band (3.5GHz) as the backbone of Nigeria’s 5G expansion, delivering speeds estimated to be up to 10 times faster than conventional 4G services.

Since late 2025, 5G test volumes have reportedly surged by 44 per cent, driven largely by Airtel and MTN deployments.

In major cities such as Lagos and Abuja, Internet download speeds now exceed 250Mbps in some locations, significantly improving experiences for streaming, gaming, video conferencing, and enterprise connectivity.

The NCC also urged consumers to adopt devices compatible with the n77 band to fully utilise the benefits of 5G technology.

Despite the rapid urban rollout, the report noted that some rural states, including Sokoto and Imo, still rely heavily on 3G infrastructure. However, ongoing migration to 4G networks is steadily narrowing the digital divide.

The regulator described the transition as critical to achieving digital inclusion and ensuring that high-speed Internet access becomes available beyond urban centres.

For basic services such as calls, messaging, social media, and payments, 4G remains Nigeria’s dominant network standard. However, the report noted that 5G is increasingly becoming the preferred option for bandwidth-intensive activities such as cloud computing, gaming, and remote work.

Ookla’s findings further showed the speed of the ongoing transition in northern Nigeria. In Sokoto State, MTN’s reliance on 3G reportedly dropped from 80 per cent in September 2025 to 29 per cent by February 2026, while Airtel’s 3G dependence fell from 71 per cent to 25 per cent within the same period.

The report stated that Nigeria’s spectrum transition represents more than a technical upgrade, describing it as a key driver of economic growth, innovation, and broader digital participation.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Internet infrastructure ecosystem received an international boost after the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) announced that China Mobile International Limited (CMI) has joined its peering fabric.

The development allows CMI, the global subsidiary of China Mobile Limited, to exchange Internet traffic locally within Nigeria through IXPN’s infrastructure.

The move is expected to reduce dependence on expensive international transit routes, improve data exchange efficiency, and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a regional digital connectivity hub in West Africa.

IXPN described the partnership as a major milestone for Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, saying businesses, Internet service providers, and users across the country would benefit from improved connectivity and faster traffic exchange.

According to IXPN, keeping more Internet traffic within Nigeria will enhance digital sovereignty, lower operational costs for service providers, and improve performance for latency-sensitive applications including cloud services, video conferencing, streaming platforms, and AI-powered technologies.

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TECHDIGEST – Some 22 telecommunications operators have completed 3G shutdown as 41 others have scheduled dismantling of the technology in 2030.

Captured by GSMA Intelligence’s Spectrum Navigator, it noted that the majority of these operators are largely Europe based.

GSMA Senior Director and Head of Data Acquisition, Radhika Gupta, noted that many players in Europe are switching-off 3G rather than 2G due to a perceived low impact on customer experience, and the fact that many public services such as utilities and emergency networks still used the previous generation.

Potential issues faced by operators ending 3G, Gupta added, include barriers to customer upgrades such as lack of appropriate handsets or coverage issues; costs associated with sunsetting and upgrading existing kit and being under-prepared in offering local and international VoLTE as an alternative.

When quizzed by Mobile World Live (MWL) about the drivers and challenges for shutting down 3G, some of Europe’s major providers highlighted energy saving and reuse of resources, while also underlining the importance of support for vulnerable customers to ensure nobody is cut off.

According to the Intelligence, one company to have already discontinued 3G is Deutsche Telekom. Speaking to MWL, the operator’s programme manager for the project Axel Burkart cited the primary driver as making optimal use of its spectrum assets.

“In general, modern technologies, such as LTE or 5G, offer enormous advantages over the older 3G/UMTS network. They are many times faster and can supply significantly more customers at the same time.”

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Chief networks officer of UK operator BT, Greg McCall, noted alongside the ability to reuse spectrum, its nationwide 3G network was still consuming a lot of energy despite falling usage.

“3G data use has fallen to record low levels and now accounts for less than 0.6 per cent of all downloaded data on the EE network and just 7 per cent of all voice traffic,” he estimated, highlighting the latter represented a 73 per cent decrease since January 2020.

“Despite its falling usage, 3G accounts for up to 35 per cent of the total power used in our mobile network. Switching it off will save the equivalent of the energy needed to fully charge four billion smartphones,” McCall added.

The operator plans to begin the nationwide sunset early in 2024 but is planning a localised pilot in the English town of Warrington in the coming weeks to inform its wider move.

A representative for Orange told MWL it is “convinced it is not sustainable to continue stacking multiple generations of mobile technologies. The 2G/3G switch-off is a transformation journey, initiated by all telco operators in the world.”

It plans to end the service in its first market of Slovakia later this year, followed by Poland and Belgium. Along with these markets, completion of sunsetting in Luxembourg, Romania and Spain is expected by end-2025 at the latest.

In France, it is switching off 2G first (from 2025) then 3G from 2028 due to the latter having superior coverage in the country. This order, Orange noted, is being replicated by others in its home market.

While South Africa has announced that it would switch off its 2G network in mid-2024 and 3G by March of 2025, the Chief Technical Officer of MTN Nigeria, Mohammed Rufai, had in an interview told The Guardian that the telecoms giant is not in a rush to shut down the 2G and 3G following deployment of its 5G network.

Rufai disclosed that MTN will continue to invest in 3G technology because many Nigerians are yet to upgrade their devices to use 4G or 5G.

He said some of its subscribers are still on 2G and 3G devices and the telco would not want to cut any of them off by shutting down the old technologies, added that the 3G spectrum can also be converted to provide 4G and 5G service when 3G is shut down in the future.

He revealed that 90 per cent of Nigeria’s population has 2G technology, while over 83 per cent of the population has 3G coverage, and 4G coverage has reached over 79 percent of Nigerians and it is still growing.

“Each subscriber has their own needs. Some only need 3G; some subscribers will move to 4G. Even though there are significant benefits to moving to higher technology in terms of speed and latency, we try to cater to the needs of everyone. So, devices are one of the main factors in moving to higher technology, and we’re moving quickly.

“So, while we are investing in new technology, we must also maintain the other technologies that are needed by the people that use them and the people that don’t yet have the devices for the newer technologies.

“This is the reason why we are still investing in and expanding on the old technologies, and also because the spectrum, the license allocated by NCC, and the network resources that are used for 3G can also be used on other technologies in the future, so the investment is still usable for the higher technologies when the devices are ready.”

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***Says 3G, 4G towers now 53,460

TECH DIGEST – The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, says it has increased third-generation (3G) and fourth-generation (4G) base transceiver stations (BTS) deployment in Nigeria from 30,000 to 53,460 through an effective regulatory framework.

The Commission also disclosed that Fibre Optic Transmission cables in the country have expanded from 47,000km to 54,725km in the last five years, resulting in improved broadband/telecoms service delivery to Nigerians. The Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Professor Umar Danbatta disclosed this while reeling out industry growth data at a briefing for the new Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Engr. Festus Yusuf Daudu, on the functions and regulatory activities of the Commission in Abuja.

The EVC, who spoke on NCC’s enabling laws, mandates of NCC, the structure of NCC, implementation approach of its mandates and methodology, key focus and targets, scorecards, the new soon-to-be-unveiled Strategic Management Vision (SVP), NCC’s contributions to the economy, said that the various regulatory frameworks are aimed at improving service delivery, challenges confronting the sector and proposed solutions, among others. According to Danbatta, the effective regulatory regime put in place by his leadership has resulted in increased deployment of infrastructure by telecoms operators, which in turn, helped to improve broadband penetration and other related service delivery in the telecoms industry.

“The BTS, fibre optic cables and other related infrastructure are central to the provision of improved service experience for Nigerians by their respective telecoms service providers,” he said, adding that the licensed Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) are also expected to add 38,296km to optic fibre cables when they commence fully operations.

The EVC also informed that as at November 2020, active telephony subscribers stood at 208 million with teledensity standing at 108.92 per cent while active Internet subscriptions were 154.9 million and broadband penetration of 45.07 per cent, among others.

He also spoke on various initiatives undertaken by the Commission to ensure consumer protection and empowerment.

These, according to him, include the Declaration of 2017 as Year of the Telecom Consumer, introduction of the 622 Toll-Free Line for lodging and resolving consumer complaints and the provision of the 112 Emergency number and activation of 19 Emergency Communications Centre (ECCs).

Other such consumer-centric regulatory measures intervention, according to the EVC, include issuance of various directions to mobile network operators (MNOs) to protect the consumers from being short-changed, ensuring smooth transition of Etisalat to 9Mobile, consumer outreach programmes, introduction and enforcement of mobile number portability (MNP) as well as the introduction of the Do-Not-Disturb (DND) 2442 to check cases of unsolicited text messages.

The EVC further disclosed that the number of subscriptions to DND service has hit over 30 million as the service empowers Nigerians to be able to protect themselves from the menace of unsolicited text messages.

In recognition of the tremendous economic growth opportunities afforded by the deployment of broadband and its associated technologies, Danbatta said the Commission has positioned itself in government’s drive for a digital Nigeria, as contained in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (2020 – 2025), the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020 – 2030) and the Strategic Management Plan (2020 – 2024) of the Commission.

“The Commission will continue to put in its best in the discharge of its mandates, especially in facilitating the deployment of broadband, which is central to diversifying the Nigerian economy and national development.

“Also, it is our belief that the communications industry, under the leadership of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, will experience more quantum leaps and retain its current leadership role in the telecommunications space,” he said. In his reaction, the Perm Secretary commended the leadership of the Commission, acknowledging the upward growth attributed to the effective regulatory regime, the central role NCC is playing in the digital transformation of the Nigerian economy as well as the impressive contribution of the sector to the country’s Gross Domestic (GDP).

“I want to thank NCC for its contribution to the Nigerian economy so far. I am not exaggerating about the achievements of NCC, in terms of contribution to GDP and how NCC’s effective regulatory role has been helping the economy in so many ways,” he said, adding that NCC leadership also contributed to his success as the Chairman of the World Radio Conference in 2015.

Engineer Daudu urged the Commission on the need for increased collaboration and teamwork with the Ministry, other agencies and industry stakeholders towards achieving the Federal Government’s objective of a digital economy. He also promised to support the Commission in whatever ways possible towards achieving its regulatory mandates.

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