The latest report from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) indicates that while 5G coverage in Nigeria improved significantly in the latter half of 2025, a persistent disparity in network quality between urban and rural areas remains. The findings, detailed in the Q4 2025 Industry Performance Report, highlight that about 50 per cent of Nigerian subscribers with 5G devices still lack access to 5G services in their locations.
In urban centres like Lagos, the 5G coverage gap decreased from 70.9 per cent in Q3 to 55.4 per cent in Q4 2025. Similarly, Abuja saw a reduction in its coverage gap from 65.6 per cent to 47.4 per cent. These improvements reflect ongoing efforts to enhance network infrastructure, although challenges remain, particularly for rural connectivity.
During a webinar on the report’s findings, Edoyemi Ogoh, Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity at the NCC, pointed out the stark contrast in download and upload speeds between urban and rural areas. In Q4 2025, the median download speed for urban areas was reported at approximately 20.5 Mbps, while rural areas lagged behind at just 11 Mbps. Notably, rural download speeds fell further from 12.7 Mbps in Q3 to 8 Mbps in Q4 2025.
The report underscores that despite enhancements in coverage, approximately half of the 5G device owners in Nigeria are unable to utilize 5G services due to insufficient infrastructure in their areas. This indicates a significant gap that still needs to be addressed to ensure equitable access to high-speed internet across the country.
Regarding network operators, MTN, Airtel, and Globacom have shown relatively strong performance in urban connectivity. However, both Globacom and T2 need to significantly improve their services in rural settings. According to Ogoh, the urban speed enhancements can be attributed to the installation of over 2,800 additional sites in these areas, as well as increased usage of spectrum to alleviate network congestion.
MTN’s data indicates robust national performance, with consistently high download/upload throughput and satisfactory latency metrics. Airtel maintains a competitive edge, particularly in download speeds, but still faces challenges related to latency, which requires improvement as the market transitions to 5G technology. T2’s performance has shown variability, achieving occasional high-speed peaks, but also encountering challenges in certain regions.
Globacom’s data suggests that the operator is facing performance issues, primarily due to latency and jitter, which adversely affect user experiences. The report reaffirms that while 4G continues to serve as the backbone for Nigeria’s data connectivity, 5G is not yet meeting subscriber expectations, given the significant coverage gap of 47.4 per cent still present in Q4 2025.
The findings of this report highlight the ongoing need for investment and development in network infrastructure, particularly in rural regions, to close the existing digital divide and provide all citizens with reliable access to modern telecommunications services.
