Over 60% of Nigerians with 4G access don’t have mobile internet—GSMA

In a concerning revelation about Nigeria’s digital landscape, the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) has disclosed that 60 percent of Nigerians with access to 4G coverage do not use mobile internet.

The report highlights a significant gap between infrastructure availability and actual internet adoption, raising concerns about the country’s digital inclusion efforts.

Angela Wamola, GSMA’s Head for Sub-Saharan Africa, addressed these issues during an interactive webinar session organized by GSMA over the weekend. She pointed out that despite broad 4G coverage; mobile internet adoption remains critically low.

“Just to place Nigeria in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa, which mirrors similar challenges, we see only about 19 per cent of our population using mobile internet on a smartphone, and another 8 per cent using mobile internet through a smart feature phone,” Wamola stated.

She further broke down the statistics, revealing that 18 percent of Nigerians own mobile devices but do not use mobile internet, while a staggering 42 per cent lack a device altogether, rendering them completely offline despite residing in areas with 4G coverage.

Experts have pointed to several key factors hindering the widespread use of mobile internet in Nigeria. Chief among them are high data costs, affordability of smartphones, digital literacy gaps, and infrastructure challenges, particularly in rural areas.

Dr. Bayo Osinubi, a telecommunications analyst, explained, “Affordability remains a critical challenge. While 4G infrastructure is available, many Nigerians either cannot afford smartphones or find mobile data costs prohibitive. This contributes significantly to the usage gap.”

Additionally, outdated technology, fluctuating foreign exchange rates, and rising energy costs continue to hamper telecom expansion, making it difficult for operators to offer affordable services to the masses.

Wamola warned that without significant investment and policy support, Nigeria risks falling further behind in the global digital economy.

“This gap in mobile internet adoption directly impacts GDP growth, tax revenues, and overall productivity. Without urgent action, Nigeria will struggle to keep pace with global digital advancements,” she cautioned.

The GSMA report also shed light on the slow adoption of 5G in Africa, with Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya leading the charge. However, by 2030, 5G is projected to cover only 17 percent of Africa’s population, leaving a vast majority disconnected from next-generation connectivity.

Experts agree that collaboration between government bodies, telecom operators, and international stakeholders is essential to ensuring that more Nigerians can access and benefit from mobile internet services.

With digital transformation being a key driver of economic growth, stakeholders emphasize that now is the time for strategic action to close Nigeria’s mobile internet usage gap and unlock the nation’s full digital potential.