Despite a significant shift towards faster mobile network technologies, access to fifth-generation (5G) connectivity remains limited in Nigeria, as expensive smartphones, inconsistent network coverage and high infrastructure costs continue to constrain adoption.
Data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) show that the country has made considerable progress in migrating mobile connections from older technologies to newer networks over the past three years. However, the figures also highlight the widening gap between the availability of advanced telecommunications services and the ability of ordinary consumers to access them.
In May 2023, second-generation (2G) technology accounted for 58.36 per cent of reported mobile connections, while fourth-generation (4G) represented 25.06 per cent and 5G accounted for just 0.12 per cent.
By August 2026, the pattern had changed considerably, with 4G emerging as the dominant technology at 54.77 per cent. The share of 2G connections fell to 36.05 per cent, while 5G increased to 4.92 per cent.
Although the figures indicate steady progress in the adoption of newer technologies, 5G penetration remains modest, suggesting that the transition to faster connectivity is being driven largely by the expansion of 4G rather than widespread access to the latest generation of mobile networks.
Chief Technology Officer of NATCOM Development and Investment Limited, trading as NTEL, Kingsley Uwazie, said Nigerians were increasingly eager to consume mobile data, but affordability remained a major obstacle to the adoption of 5G.
“The 5G ecosystem is in its maturity phase. It has been proven that there is an appetite. Nigerians have an appetite to consume data. But there is a barrier to acquiring the devices and using the technology,” he said.
His remarks highlight a central challenge confronting the telecommunications industry: while demand for data services continues to grow, the cost of acquiring compatible devices and maintaining the infrastructure needed to support advanced networks remains prohibitive for many consumers and operators.
High cost of compatible devices
For millions of Nigerians, the first obstacle to accessing 5G is the price of a compatible smartphone.
Unlike older network technologies, 5G requires devices equipped with the appropriate hardware. Consumers who still use basic phones or older smartphones must therefore upgrade before they can benefit from the technology, adding to the cost of accessing mobile internet.
However, persistent increases in smartphone prices are making such upgrades increasingly difficult, particularly for low-income households already grappling with rising living expenses.
Uwazie said 5G-enabled devices remained expensive despite efforts by some telecommunications operators to make selected models more affordable through subsidies.
“5G, at the moment, is not a cheap technology to deploy or to own. The cost of 5G devices has been high,” he said.
He cited MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria as operators offering subsidies on selected devices, explaining that a smartphone that could sell for about N50,000 with a subsidy might cost more than N200,000 without such support.
The price disparity illustrates the extent to which access to newer network technologies can depend on consumers' purchasing power, particularly in a market where many households must prioritise basic needs over upgrading electronic devices.
The affordability problem has been compounded by a contraction in Nigeria's smartphone market. Technology research firm Omdia reported that smartphone shipments in the country declined by 11 per cent in the second quarter of 2026.
Rising memory-chip prices, partly driven by increasing demand from artificial intelligence (AI) data centres, have added pressure to manufacturers and consumers. Across Africa, shipments of smartphones priced below $100 fell by 34 per cent year-on-year during the same quarter.
A market assessment published by technology news platform Condia also found that prices of selected Tecno, Infinix, Oppo and itel smartphone models increased between January and June 2026.
The midpoint price of the itel S-Series Ultra rose from approximately N263,500 to N316,400, while that of the Infinix Zero Series increased from about N550,000 to N637,500.
Omdia warned in June that Nigerian smartphone prices could rise by a further 15 to 30 per cent during the remainder of 2026 if component costs continued to increase.
Such increases could discourage consumers from replacing older devices, limiting the number of Nigerians able to connect to 5G networks even as operators expand their infrastructure.
Network coverage remains uneven
Affordability, however, is only one part of the problem. Consumers who can purchase 5G-enabled smartphones may still struggle to obtain reliable connections because network availability varies significantly by location.
MTN's 2023 pilot announcement identified Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Kano, Owerri and Maiduguri among the cities targeted for its initial rollout, subject to coverage availability.
Airtel also began its rollout in Lagos, Ogun, Rivers and the Federal Capital Territory, focusing on selected locations.
But the presence of a 5G network in a city or state does not necessarily mean that every neighbourhood within that area enjoys consistent access. Network availability can vary from one district to another, depending on infrastructure deployment and local operating conditions.
A December 2025 report based on Ookla analysis illustrated these limitations in two of Nigeria's major urban centres.
According to the report, Lagos recorded an average 5G coverage gap of 55.4 per cent, meaning compatible devices could not connect to 5G for more than half of the measured time. The reported gap was approximately 50 per cent for MTN and 77 per cent for Airtel.
In Abuja, the average gap stood at 47.4 per cent.
These figures measure time-based access gaps rather than the proportion of land without 5G coverage. Nevertheless, they indicate that consumers may not consistently benefit from the technology even in locations where operators have launched services.
For subscribers, inconsistent access can diminish the value of investing in expensive devices, especially when their phones frequently fall back to older network technologies.
High operating costs slow expansion
Beyond consumer affordability and coverage limitations, telecommunications operators face substantial costs in deploying and maintaining 5G infrastructure.
The technology requires investment in network equipment, electricity, transmission systems and other supporting facilities. Operators must also assess whether the expected number of subscribers in a particular location will generate enough revenue to justify the expenditure.
Uwazie estimated that operating a telecommunications site in Nigeria could cost between $2,000 and $3,000 monthly, compared with approximately $300 in China and $500 in India. He attributed the difference partly to the cost of power and transmission.
Explaining the commercial challenge, he said operators could struggle to recover their investments when too few customers in a particular area owned compatible devices.
“If you deploy 5G in areas where only two people have 5G-enabled phones, it means those two people can’t cater for the operating expenditure required to deploy 5G. The operating expenditure of running mobile networks in Nigeria is extremely high. It is a combination of both power and transmission, keeping that site up.”
His comments underscore the relationship between device affordability and network expansion. Where relatively few consumers can use 5G, operators may have limited incentives to invest heavily in extending coverage, particularly in areas with high operating costs.
This creates a difficult cycle: limited access to compatible smartphones reduces the commercial appeal of expanding networks, while restricted coverage reduces the incentive for consumers to purchase expensive 5G devices.
Breaking that cycle will require measures that address both the demand and supply sides of the market.
Digital inclusion at risk
The slow adoption of 5G also raises broader concerns about Nigeria's digital inclusion ambitions, particularly efforts to ensure that more citizens can access affordable mobile internet.
According to the GSMA's smartphone adoption report, only 27 per cent of Nigeria's population owned a smartphone in 2024, while the mobile internet usage gap remained close to 60 per cent.
The figures point to a substantial population that remains unable to take full advantage of the digital economy, whether because of device affordability, limited access to connectivity or other barriers to internet use.
In April 2026, the NCC said it was exploring options to make cheaper smartphones available to consumers. Nigeria was also selected for pilot initiatives coordinated by the GSMA's Handset Affordability Coalition, which seeks to expand access to affordable 4G smartphones.
However, rising global component costs threaten to complicate these efforts by pushing device prices further beyond the reach of lower-income consumers.
Affordable smartphones and dependable internet access are increasingly important for activities such as mobile banking, digital education, online commerce and access to employment opportunities. As more services move online, the ability to connect reliably is becoming an important factor in economic participation.
Expanding network infrastructure alone may therefore be insufficient if consumers cannot afford the devices needed to use it.
While 5G offers the potential for faster data speeds and improved network capacity, its broader benefits will depend on the extent to which the technology becomes accessible beyond a relatively small group of consumers and well-served urban locations.
Bridging the affordability and access gap
For Nigeria to achieve wider 5G adoption, stakeholders will need to address the interconnected challenges of device prices, network coverage and infrastructure costs.
Making compatible smartphones more affordable could help increase the pool of potential subscribers, strengthening the commercial case for operators to expand their networks. Improved coverage, in turn, could encourage more consumers to invest in compatible devices.
Operators may also need more sustainable approaches to managing electricity, transmission and other infrastructure expenses, particularly as they extend services to locations where subscriber numbers are initially low.
Government agencies, telecommunications companies, device manufacturers and industry associations all have roles to play in improving affordability and expanding access to reliable connectivity.
The shift from 2G to 4G demonstrates that Nigeria's mobile market is capable of adopting newer technologies as they become more accessible. The next challenge is ensuring that the expansion of advanced networks translates into meaningful access for a much wider section of the population.
Until compatible smartphones become more affordable, coverage becomes more consistent and the cost of operating telecommunications infrastructure eases, 5G adoption is likely to remain concentrated among consumers who can afford the technology and live in areas with reliable service.
For millions of Nigerians, the promise of faster connectivity may therefore remain distant, even as the country's mobile market continues its transition towards more advanced networks.