Nigeria witnessed a surge in 5G subscriptions, reaching 2.3 million in December 2023, constituting 1.04% of the total active telephone subscribers of 124.7 million.
MTN, Airtel, and Mafab Communications spearhead 5G deployment.
Despite efforts, factors like expensive 5G devices hinder widespread adoption, with 57.84% still on 2G.
The 3G network claims 9.80%, while 4G subscriptions, introduced in 2016, rose from 25.06% in May 2023 to 31.33% in December.
Device compatibility challenges persist, prompting operators to maintain 2G and 3G networks.
Africa’s 5G coverage, including Nigeria, remains the world’s lowest at 6% as of December 2023, according to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
