Emma Okonji
Eleven months after the December 2025 deadline for attaining 70 per cent broadband penetration as outlined within the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (2020-2025), the nation remains to be far from attaining the set goal.
The five-year broadband coverage, which was formulated in 2020, search to attain 70 per cent broadband protection for 90 per cent of the Nigerian inhabitants, with minimal obtain speeds of 25 megabyte per second (Mbps) in city areas and 10 Mbps in rural areas.
But as at August this 12 months, Nigeria’s broadband penetration stood at 58.22 per cent, with roughly 126.2 million lively broadband subscriptions, which remains to be a far cry from attaining the 70 per cent broadband goal.
Despite the nation’s incapacity to fulfill the set broadband goal in December 2025, the Nigerian telecoms sector nonetheless recoded regular development in broadband penetration and subscription in 12 consecutive months, in line with the most recent statistics launched by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
From September 2025 to August 2026, the sector recorded steady enhance in broadband penetration stage and lively variety of broadband subscriptions.
The statistics confirmed that in September 2025, broadband penetration was 49.34 per cent, with 106.9 million lively broadband subscriptions.
In October 2025, broadband penetration elevated to 49.89 per cent with a corresponding enhance in broadband subscription, which reached 108.2 million.
In November 2025 and December 2025, broadband penetration elevated once more to 50.58 per cent and 51.97 per cent respectively, whereas lively broadband subscription additionally elevated to 109.7 million and 112.7 million respectively inside the similar interval.
In January 2026, broadband penetration additional improved to achieve 53.07 per cent. There was additionally an enchancment in lively broadband subscription, which elevated to 115 million.
In February 2026, the telecoms sector witnessed one other enhance in broadband penetration, which reached 53.86 per cent, with a corresponding enhance in lively broadband subscription, which elevated to 116.7 million.
In March 2026, there was one other enhance in broadband penetration to 54.30 per cent, whereas lively broadband subscription additionally elevated to 117.7 million.
In April 2026, broadband penetration and subscription elevated once more to 55.67 per cent and 120.7 million respectively.
In May 2026, there was one other enhance in broadband penetration to 56.11 per cent, with a corresponding enhance in lively broadband subscription of 121.6 million.
In June 2026, broadband penetration elevated once more to achieve 56.79 per cent, with an extra enhance in broadband subscription of 123.1 million.
In July 2026, the telecoms sector additionally witnessed one other enhance in broadband penetration, which reached 57.40 per cent, with a corresponding enhance in broadband subscription of 124.4 million, earlier than reaching 58.22 per cent broadband penetration and 126.2 million lively broadband subscriptions in August 2026.
Commenting on the regular enhance in broadband penetration and subscriptions throughout networks, the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, who doubles because the spokesperson for all licensed telecoms operators in Nigeria, stated though Nigeria was but to fulfill the 70 per cent broadband penetration goal, the regular development in broadband penetration and subscriptions had been clear indicators that the telecoms sector is making progress in broadband penetration and subscriptions.
He nonetheless assured Nigerians that the 70 per cent goal would quickly be achieved and surpassed, given the expansion trajectory of broadband penetration within the final one 12 months.
