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Fourth-generation mobile technology (also known as 4G) now carries most of Nigeria’s phone traffic, showing that users are gradually moving away from older networks in favour of faster and more reliable data services.
New data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) shows that 4G made up 51.99 per cent of total mobile subscriptions in November, up slightly from 51.77 per cent in October, consolidating its position as the country’s dominant access technology.
At the same time, older networks continued to lose users. 2G fell to 38.29 per cent in November from 38.40 per cent in October, while 3G dropped more sharply to 6.13 per cent from 6.34 per cent.
By contrast, 4G use continued to grow, helped by wider smartphone use, better coverage and rising demand for data. 5G, though still small, also expanded, increasing to 3.60 per cent in November from 3.49 per cent in October.
Looking at the past year, the shift is clearer. In November 2023, 4G accounted for 47.09 per cent of mobile connections. By November 2025, its share had risen by nearly five percentage points, a growth of about 10 per cent.
Over the same period, 2G usage fell from 41.50 per cent to 38.29 per cent, while 3G dropped from 9.03 per cent to 6.13 per cent, showing that many users are leaving these older networks.
5G recorded the fastest growth. Its share rose from 2.39 per cent in November 2024 to 3.60 per cent in November 2025, an increase of more than 50 per cent. Even so, it still makes up a small part of total mobile connections.
The NCC data suggest Nigeria is slowly moving toward faster mobile networks. While 2G is still important, especially in rural areas and for basic phones, its role is shrinking.
The decline in 3G usage indicates that many operators and users are bypassing it in favour of 4G and 5G.
