The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has disclosed that data consumption in January 2024 reached an unprecedented 721,522 terabytes, marking the highest monthly consumption ever recorded in the country.
Data obtained from the regulator’s website on Tuesday revealed that this figure surpassed the previous record set in December 2023, which stood at 713,200 terabytes.
The NCC reported a significant increase in active Internet subscriptions, totaling 161,977,883 in January 2024, compared to 156,244,368 subscriptions recorded in the same period of the previous year.
The subscriptions encompass various service providers, including mobile network operators, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), and fixed-line connections.
Mobile subscriptions accounted for the bulk of Internet access, totaling 161,504,390, while ISPs recorded 213,876 subscriptions, fixed-line connections stood at 21,437, and 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 percent, with broadband subscriptions totaling 92,195,937 million.
The data revealed a shift in network generations, with 4G subscriptions steadily rising. In January 2024, 4G subscriptions increased from 31.33 percent to 31.75 percent, indicating a growing preference for high-speed connectivity.
Furthermore, 5G subscriptions accounted for 1.11 percent of all connections in Nigeria in January 2024, up from 1.04 percent in December 2023. However, Africa’s 5G coverage remains notably low, standing at only 6 percent as of December 2023, according to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
The ITU’s report highlighted the persistent predominance of older mobile technologies, particularly 2G and 3G networks, across the continent, including Nigeria. These legacy technologies continue to play a vital role in delivering essential mobile services, especially in regions with limited access to advanced networks.
The surge in data consumption underscores the growing reliance on digital connectivity in Nigeria, with 4G and 5G subscriptions steadily gaining traction despite challenges in expanding coverage across the country.
