Staff Writer
During the first quarter of this year, there were 2.7 million additional active internet subscriptions in Nigeria across fixed, mobile, and VOIP networks.
In Nigeria, there were 2.7 million additional active internet subscribers in the first quarter of this year, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The number of internet connections in the country increased from 154.8 million in December 2022 to 157.5 million by the end of March. The rise throughout this time period represents a 1.7% growth rate.
The major mobile network carriers, such as MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile, continued to dominate the market for internet service providers with a combined total of 156.9 million users. Additionally, VOIP service providers Smile and Ntel offered 340,614 internet subscriptions, while other ISPs gave 221,267 users.
These figures demonstrate the expanding use of the internet in Nigeria as well as the continued dominance of mobile network carriers in the provision of internet services. The country’s rising reliance on digital connections and its importance in many aspects of daily life and business operations are both shown by the internet’s steady subscriber growth.
High-speed internet subscriptions also grew, from 90.4 million at the end of December 2018 to 92 million at the end of the first quarter of 2023. The country’s broadband penetration grew to 48.21% at the end of March as a result.
The increase in internet users is evidence that the nation’s efforts to implement the National internet Plan (NBP 2020-2025) are having an impact. In the strategy, the government set a goal of reaching 70% internet penetration by 2025. Broadband penetration is rising as a result of the carriers’ 4G service’s statewide rollout.
