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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has disclosed that data consumption in January 2024 surged to an all-time high of 721,522 terabytes, surpassing the previous record set in December 2023 at 713,200 terabytes.
According to data released by the regulator, active internet subscriptions also experienced a notable uptick, totaling 161,977,883. This represents a substantial increase from the 156,244,368 subscriptions recorded in January of the preceding year.
The breakdown of internet subscriptions reveals a diverse mix of service providers, including mobile network operators (telcos), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), and Fixed-line connections.
Mobile subscriptions accounted for the majority, totaling 161,504,390, while internet service providers (both wired and wireless) recorded 213,876 subscriptions. Fixed wire connections amounted to 21,437, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) reached 238,180.
Despite a slight decline of 1.9 million internet users compared to December 2023, dropping from 163.8 million to 161.9 million, internet penetration remained robust at 42.53%. Broadband subscriptions also continued to grow, reaching 92,195,937 million.
The data further indicates a shift in network preferences, with 4G subscriptions steadily increasing. In January 2024, 4G connections accounted for 31.75% of all subscriptions, up from 31.33% in December 2023. Additionally, 5G subscriptions saw a slight rise, reaching 1.11% of total connections in January 2024.
However, Africa still lags behind in 5G coverage, with only 6% coverage as of December 2023, according to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). This is attributed to the continued prevalence of older mobile technologies like 2G and 3G networks, which remain vital in providing essential mobile services, particularly in regions with limited access to advanced networks.
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