Fresh indications emerged yesterday that Nigeria is rapidly phasing out the legacy 3G technology and pivoting strategically toward 4G and 5G networks. The latest review of the telecoms sector in the first quarter by Ookla, on behalf of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), revealed a country quickly clearing its digital fast lanes, ensuring millions of citizens gain access to faster and more reliable connectivity.
Specifically, the industry insight released yesterday by the NCC showed that operators are retiring the 900MHz 3G band, particularly in rural states such as Sokoto, and reallocating resources to the 1800MHz and 2100MHz 4G bands. These highways balance speed and coverage, unlocking essential services like e-learning and digital payments for communities previously constrained by slower networks.
Ookla disclosed that Airtel and MTN have spearheaded this migration, drastically reducing reliance on outdated spectrum and setting the pace for nationwide modernisation. Checks showed that as of Q1, 4G penetration stands at 53.76 percent, 2G at 36.74 percent, 3G at 5.30 percent, and 5G at 4.20 percent. However, during a meeting in Lagos, NCC Executive Vice Chairman Dr. Aminu Maida put 5G penetration at 14 percent and usage at five percent.
At the heart of Nigeria’s next-generation connectivity is the n77 (3.5 GHz) band. Dubbed the fast lane, it delivers speeds up to 10 times faster than average 4G. Since late 2025, 5G test volumes have surged by 44 percent, with Airtel and MTN leading adoption. In urban centres such as Lagos and Abuja, download speeds now exceed 250Mbps, redefining the digital experience for work, gaming, and streaming. The NCC emphasised that consumers must adopt devices compatible with the n77 band to fully benefit from this revolution.
While Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory continue to set benchmarks for performance, rural states remain in transition. Sokoto and Imo still show higher reliance on 3G, limiting access to modern applications. However, the ongoing migration to 4G is closing this gap, with significant progress already visible. The NCC framed this as a matter of digital equity, ensuring that connectivity is not a privilege of urban hubs but a national right.
For everyday tasks such as payments, social media, and calls, 4G remains the national standard. But for high-intensity activities like remote work and gaming, 5G is the rocket engine. The report highlighted how improved spectrum utilisation is directly empowering citizens, whether enabling students in rural areas to access online classes or supporting entrepreneurs with seamless digital transactions.
According to the Ookla document, the NCC’s roadmap is clear: retire the past, optimise the present, and accelerate into the future. The report noted that in Sokoto, MTN’s reliance on 3G dropped from 80 percent in September 2025 to just 29 percent by February 2026. Airtel recorded a similar decline from 71 percent to 25 percent in the same period. These figures underscore the rapid pace of modernisation and the determination of operators to deliver world-class connectivity.
Nigeria’s spectrum evolution is more than a technical upgrade; it is a social and economic catalyst. By expanding 4G and 5G coverage, Ookla noted that the country is laying the foundation for digital inclusion, innovation, and growth. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s internet ecosystem received a major international boost as the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) announced that China Mobile International Limited (CMI) has officially joined its peering fabric. This move is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s position as a regional hub for global data traffic and digital interconnection in West Africa.
The integration brings CMI, the international subsidiary of China Mobile Limited, widely regarded as the world’s largest mobile operator by subscriber base, into Nigeria’s growing local interconnection ecosystem. CMI’s connection to IXPN will enable it to exchange internet traffic locally with Nigerian networks, reducing reliance on costly international transit routes and improving the efficiency of data exchange within the country.
The announcement comes as IXPN continues its rapid expansion across Africa’s digital infrastructure landscape. According to IXPN, the onboarding of CMI is a landmark moment for Nigeria’s internet ecosystem. The partnership is expected to improve connectivity performance for enterprises, service providers, and internet users nationwide. IXPN stated, “CMI’s presence on the IXPN fabric means that Nigerian businesses, enterprises, and internet users stand to benefit from enhanced connectivity, faster traffic exchange, and access to a truly global telecommunications network, right here, locally.”
The exchange point said localising internet traffic remains critical to improving Nigeria’s digital sovereignty by ensuring that more locally generated data stays within the country. This model also helps reduce operational costs for internet service providers while improving the performance of latency-sensitive services such as cloud computing, video conferencing, streaming platforms, and AI-driven applications.
