Data consumption reached 721,522 terabytes in January 2024, the highest monthly consumption ever recorded, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission.
Data obtained on Tuesday from the regulator’s website showed that this record surpassed December 2023, which stood at 713,200 terabytes.
Active Internet subscriptions totalled 161,977,883, reflecting a substantial increase from the 156,244,368 subscriptions recorded in January of the preceding year.
Different service providers make up the number of Internet subscriptions; they include telcos (mobile), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Fixed.
Mobile subscriptions accounted for 161,504,390, with Internet service providers—wired or wireless—recording 213,876 subscriptions, fixed wire connections totalling 21,437, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) reaching 238,180.
According to the NCC, January 2024 witnessed a decline of 1.9 million Internet users compared to December 2023, dropping from 163.8 million to 161.9 million.
Nonetheless, Internet penetration remained robust at 42.53 per cent, with broadband subscriptions totalling 92,195,937 million.
The data show that 2G connections remain predominant, but the proportion of 4G subscriptions has been steadily rising.
In terms of market share by network generations, 2G accounted for 57.78 per cent in January 2024, 3G was 9.36 per cent in January, and in December 2023, it was 9.80 per cent.
4G subscriptions increased from 31.33 per cent in December 2023 to 31.75 per cent, indicating a growing preference for high-speed connectivity.
5G subscriptions accounted for 1.11 per cent of all connections in Nigeria in January 2024, up from 1.04 per cent recorded in December 2023.
The International Telecommunications Union, a specialised agency of the United Nations, recently revealed that Africa maintains the lowest 5G coverage rate globally, standing at only 6 per cent as of December 2023.
This disparity is attributed in part to the ongoing significance of older mobile technologies, particularly 2G and 3G networks, across the continent.
The ITU report highlighted the persistence of 2G and 3G networks in many African countries, contrasting with their phase-out in developed nations.
These legacy technologies remain integral to the telecommunications landscape in African nations, particularly those with lower-income economies.
In its report, the ITU underscored the continued predominance of 2G and 3G networks in countries like Nigeria.
These technologies offer a cost-effective means of delivering essential mobile services, such as voice calls and text messages, particularly in regions lacking access to 4G and 5G networks.
