Digitnomics 
By Nonye Ngoka,
Nigeria’s digital connectivity continued its upward trajectory in April 2026, with broadband subscriptions surpassing 120 million and mobile subscriptions climbing to 188.01 million, underscoring sustained demand for high-speed internet and digital services.
Fresh industry data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) shows that broadband subscriptions rose from 117.71 million in March to 120.68 million in April, lifting broadband penetration from 54.30 per cent to 55.67 per cent.
The latest figures also indicate that active mobile subscriptions increased to 188.01 million during the month, pushing the country’s teledensity to 86.73 per cent from 85.67 per cent recorded in March.
The growth reflects increasing access to mobile connectivity as operators continue expanding network coverage and consumers rely more heavily on digital platforms for communication, financial services, entertainment and business.
MTN Nigeria retained its position as the industry’s largest operator with 96.39 million active subscribers, representing more than half of Nigeria’s mobile market. Airtel followed with 64.67 million subscribers, while Globacom recorded 23.18 million subscribers. 9mobile accounted for 3.54 million active lines.
Beyond subscriber growth, the latest statistics point to a steady evolution in Nigeria’s network landscape, with consumers increasingly migrating to faster broadband technologies.
Fourth-generation (4G) networks remained the dominant access technology, accounting for 54.41 per cent of total mobile connections, an increase from 53.76 per cent in March. Fifth-generation (5G) technology also continued its gradual expansion, with market share rising from 4.20 per cent to 4.34 per cent within one month.
Conversely, legacy network usage continued its downward trend as the share of 2G connections declined to 35.93 per cent from 36.74 per cent, reflecting the gradual transition towards higher-capacity networks capable of supporting richer digital experiences.
Third-generation (3G) connections remained relatively stable at about 5.3 per cent of total subscriptions.
Internet subscriptions also maintained an upward trend, reaching 154.72 million in April. Mobile GSM networks accounted for virtually all internet connections with 154.35 million subscriptions, while fixed wired internet services recorded 156,662 subscriptions. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services contributed 220,166 subscriptions.
Despite the increase in broadband users, overall internet traffic recorded a slight decline. Total data consumption fell marginally to 1.41 million terabytes in April from 1.42 million terabytes in March, suggesting that although more Nigerians are coming online, average usage per subscriber remained relatively stable during the period.
The latest industry statistics reinforce the telecommunications sector’s growing importance to Nigeria’s economy. According to recent national accounts, the sector contributed 9.19 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2026, highlighting its expanding role in powering digital transformation.
For industry analysts, the continued rise in broadband penetration and 5G adoption signals positive momentum for Nigeria’s digital economy. However, sustaining this growth will depend on continued investment in fibre infrastructure, wider 5G rollout, improved quality of service and supportive regulatory policies that encourage innovation and digital inclusion.
With broadband penetration now approaching 56 per cent, attention is increasingly shifting from expanding connectivity to ensuring that individuals, businesses and public institutions fully leverage digital infrastructure to drive productivity, innovation and economic growth.
