By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
THREE YEARS after its commercial introduction, Nigeria’s fifth-generation (5G) network remains inaccessible to most citizens, restricted largely to affluent users in major urban centres despite its promise of faster connectivity and digital transformation.
Latest data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) indicate that 5G penetration stands at only 3.2 percent, translating to about 5.6 million active users out of 172 million mobile connections across the country.
The figures underline the slow progress of the technology’s adoption since its rollout in 2022.
The service, currently offered mainly by MTN and Airtel, has seen limited rollout from Mafab Communications.
Even in states where 5G is available such as Lagos, Abuja, Rivers, and Ogun, coverage remains confined to select urban areas, leaving a majority of Nigerians dependent on 4G or even 2G networks.
Industry observers attribute the limited adoption to the high cost of 5G-enabled devices, insufficient infrastructure, and sluggish network expansion.
Entry-level 5G smartphones cost far above the national minimum wage of N70,000, with the cheapest models priced between N170,000 and N250,000. Mid-range models sell for N400,000 and above, further excluding low- and middle-income users.
Nigeria’s absence of local smartphone assembly plants has deepened dependence on imports, pushing the country’s smartphone import bill to about N50 billion in 2023, according to industry data.
Telecom analysts note that for most Nigerians, the ongoing migration is still from 3G to 4G rather than 5G.
Statistics show that 4G accounts for over 51 percent of total connections, while 38 percent of subscribers continue to rely on the older 2G network.
Experts also argue that operators’ concentration on high-value markets in places as Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt has left rural and semi-urban populations behind, widening the nation’s digital divide.
They say this imbalance undermines the Federal Government’s broadband target of achieving 70 per cent internet penetration by 2025.
Telecom operators, however, cite harsh economic realities as barriers to wider rollout.
The Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, said inflation, naira depreciation, and high energy costs have sharply increased operational expenses.
He explained that operators rely heavily on diesel-powered generators to sustain base stations amid unstable electricity supply, adding that the deployment of dense fibre optic backhaul and tower upgrades has made 5G expansion financially demanding.
Adebayo stated that the telecom industry operates in a difficult environment, where maintaining service quality has become increasingly expensive due to currency instability and rising import costs for technical equipment.
Consumer advocates have voiced concerns that subscribers are not getting value for money.
The President of the National Association of Telecom Subscribers (NATCOMs), Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, criticised operators for what he described as “charging premium rates without delivering premium service.”
He said despite a 50 per cent tariff increase earlier in the year, service quality remains unsatisfactory, with many subscribers failing to experience the ultrafast speeds promised under 5G.
Ogunbanjo called on the NCC to assess operators’ performance before permitting further upgrades to newer technologies such as 6G.
According to Ogunbanjo, operators must first ensure service reliability and consumer satisfaction before introducing new technologies.
He maintained that Nigerians deserve affordable and dependable network access, not just marketing campaigns promising digital transformation.
Telecom analysts warn that unless device costs fall and coverage expands beyond major cities, the benefits of 5G—such as supporting innovation, education, and economic inclusion will remain unrealised.
They stress that strategic government intervention, local manufacturing incentives, and infrastructure investment are crucial to extending connectivity to underserved areas.
Experts further caution that without these measures, Nigeria risks falling behind as other nations begin exploring sixth-generation (6G) technologies, further widening the digital divide between rich and poor citizens.
On 21 October 2025, subscribers of Airtel and MTN in Nigeria, India, Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda took to X (formerly Twitter) to complain about widespread service disruptions.
Users reported unreliable networks, vanishing data bundles, dropped calls, inconsistent 5G signals, and slow customer service responses.
Many cited long delays in fibre installations, unresponsive helplines directing users to direct messages, and unresolved payment issues.
The wave of complaints, which trended across several countries, reflected persistent service quality challenges despite ongoing infrastructure investments by both telecom firms.
Neither MTN nor Airtel have yet confirmed any nationwide outages at the time of reporting.
Analysts however said the incident asserts the ongoing struggle of operators to balance network expansion with service reliability in multiple African markets simultaneously.
They noted that while both companies continue to invest in 5G infrastructure, customers remain frustrated by inconsistent performance and inadequate technical support.
Meanwhile, within Nigeria, subscribers continue to express disappointments that despite high tariffs and rising data costs, network reliability continues to fluctuate.
Consumers also demanded stronger regulatory oversight to ensure that operators deliver services consistent with advertised standards.
The NCC has however repeatedly urged telecom providers to prioritise quality of service, particularly in areas where network congestion and infrastructural constraints persist.
The regulator maintains that consistent service delivery remains a core obligation under national licensing agreements.
As 5G adoption remains confined to select urban areas, industry stakeholders emphasise that the success of next-generation connectivity depends on inclusive access, affordability, and sustainable power supply for telecom infrastructure.
Experts then warn that the continued exclusion of rural and low-income users from digital participation could undermine national efforts to achieve equitable economic growth through technology.
They insist that broadband expansion must not become a privilege limited to a few urban elites but a foundation for inclusive national development.
