Nigeria’s 5G network fails 55% of the time despite surge in smartphone readiness

Latest Quality of Experience (QoE) data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Ookla revealed that issues with 5G penetration in Nigeria persist, with an average coverage gap of 55% as of December 2025.

At the forefront of the digital divide is the notion that device readiness is outpacing 5G penetration in Nigeria. In fact, Lagos and FCT Abuja, the country’s major cities, saw record coverage of 27% and 31%, leaving the majority of capable smartphones on 4G.

With fifth-generation mobile technology, faster speeds and lower delays are provided, and it supports millions of connected devices. However, the network upgrade has placed Nigerians in a state where operators still struggle due to the complex infrastructure needs. 

Recall that 5G was first rolled out in Nigeria by MTN in September 2022, with a commercial launch in Lagos and other cities. Airtel launched the network in June 2023, and Mafab Communications launched its services in Abuja and Lagos in January 2023, which has yet to commence operation.

With overall average coverage at 65%, this means that more than half the time, a 5G smartphone in Nigeria’s major cities cannot connect to 5G. This presents an ironic and disturbing state. While Nigerians are already defeating affordability by possessing fifth generation-enabled devices, they are faced with the non-availability of network infrastructure. 

Breaking it down further, the quarterly reports show that the average 5G coverage gap in Lagos stood at 55.4%, where about 64% gap (MTN: 50%, Airtel: 77%) was recorded in high-density commercial zones.

For areas such as Lagos Island and Victoria Island, the gap poses a major threat to business and commercial activities where fast-paced network performance is needed to meet daily targets.

FCT Abuja’s coverage gap stood at 47.4%. While it’s better than Lagos, the gap indicates that nearly half of potential connections still fail. However, with 30-40%, urban cities are still outpacing the rollout compared to rural areas, revealing the continued disparity between these geographical areas. 

The latest data reveals a critical issue in the Nigerian telecom industry. It shows that Nigeria’s 5G rollout remains far behind device readiness and exposes a gap between user potential and network availability, especially in the country’s largest cities.

Also Read: NCC grants license to 7 new ISPs to operate in Nigeria, now 231 in total.

5G deployment: Nigeria needs more players 

With only two (MTN and Airtel) of the three licensed operators currently deploying 5G services, the gap is a major challenge to the network’s rollout in Nigeria. 

In addition, the network has witnessed slow growth in terms of market share. Latest industry data shows that only 6.3 million Nigerians telecom subscribers (3.6%) use the 5G network, with 4G (60%) remaining the dominant network. 

At a time when 3 billion of the world’s population are 5G subscribers, and ever-increasing smartphone readiness, Nigeria still struggles with deployment and infrastructure gaps. 

For instance, the deployment gap persists at an average of 66% (MTN: 49% gap, Airtel: 83% gap) in Abuja, showing the slow pace of the rollout against the planned setup. In fact, only 31% of 5G-capable devices in Nigeria’s capital city are successfully connected to the network.

Aside from existing telecom operators, the report encouraged other players to enter the game. With only two major players, the 5G gap stood around 50%. However, with the entrance of other operators, effective coverage could climb as high as 83% to 99% in major cities.

Presently, Nigerian subscribers are ready, but the industry is still dragging on. Increased availability of the ultra-fast network holds the potential to boost 5G subscribers in Nigeria. The equation works better when demand meets supply.

Meanwhile, challenges persist for operators such as infrastructure vandalism, fibre optic cuts, expensive tower upgrades, RoW (especially in rural areas), epileptic oil supply and power issues. 

Going forward 

To optimise the potential of 5G networks in Nigeria, the report suggests that operators should increase focus on existing sites in Lagos/Abuja to lower the 55% gap. This approach makes it available for almost half of the users who are currently blocked.

While 2G/3G still holds almost half the share of Nigerian subscribers, there’s a need to accelerate their phase-out to free up spectrum for 4G/5G.

For operators, the rollout comes into play by targeting investment in rural areas and states with vast rural communities.

As Nigeria races towards expanding broadband connectivity, improving latency and extending next-generation coverage are crucial to bridging the country’s growing digital divide. It also holds a strong force for its $1 trillion digital economy target.

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