Nigeria’s average internet download speed in urban areas increased to 20.5 megabits per second (Mbps) in the fourth quarter of 2025, up from 19Mbps recorded in the previous quarter, according to the latest Industry Performance Report released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The report, however, revealed a contrasting trend in rural areas, where average download speeds declined to 11Mbps in Q4, compared with 12.7Mbps recorded in the third quarter.
The data highlights persistent disparities in broadband performance across the country, despite increased investment by telecommunications operators and ongoing regulatory efforts to improve nationwide connectivity.
Presenting the report during a webinar attended by media representatives and industry stakeholders, the NCC’s Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Edoyemi Ogoh, said the 20.5Mbps figure represents the median download experience across all mobile network operators in urban centres.
While acknowledging the quarter-on-quarter decline in rural speeds, Ogoh noted that performance in less populated areas has improved compared with earlier in the year.
“Earlier in the year, the download speed in rural areas was about 8 to 9 Mbps. At the end of the year, we’re doing about 11, so there’s a slight improvement, though there was a decline when you compare Q3 strictly to Q4,” he explained.
The NCC said the widening gap between urban and rural broadband performance remains a key concern, noting that improvements are happening more rapidly in cities than in rural communities.
Ogoh attributed the trend partly to network deployment patterns, revealing that operators added more than 2,800 new network sites over the past year, with most of the infrastructure concentrated in urban areas to ease congestion.
Beyond download speeds, the report also showed significant differences in latency performance. Ogoh said users generally enjoy lower latency and a better overall internet experience in urban areas, driven by the rollout of additional sites and capacity upgrades.
From an operator standpoint, MTN, Airtel and Glo were reported to perform relatively well on latency in urban areas, with MTN leading the group. In rural locations, MTN and Airtel recorded comparatively better latency, while Glo and T2 lagged behind.
“The challenge this provides is that when you are in rural areas, you basically have less experience-wise, especially if you’re using video services or uploading large content,” Ogoh said, adding that users in some rural areas struggle with video uploads and interactive digital platforms.
READ ALSO: NCC urges media to shape accurate, data-driven telecom narratives
Commenting on the findings, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said the report reflects the Commission’s commitment to transparent, data-driven regulation and the continuous improvement of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
Maida disclosed that in 2025 alone, more than $1 billion in industry investment led to the deployment of over 2,850 new network sites nationwide to expand both coverage and capacity.
“Much of the progress reflected in today’s reports is a direct outcome of these investments,” he said, adding that the NCC has secured commitments from operators to exceed their 2025 investment levels in 2026.
He also linked the improved investment climate to the Commission’s return to market-driven pricing, noting that the policy shift had already attracted over $1 billion in fresh infrastructure funding within months of implementation.
According to Maida, the pricing reform introduced in January and February 2025 allowed mobile network operators to adjust tariffs by up to 50 per cent after nearly a decade of static pricing. He said the move helped reverse years of under-investment that constrained network expansion and degraded service quality.
Before the reform, Maida explained, the telecommunications value chain had been imbalanced, as tower companies were able to adjust prices annually in line with inflation and foreign exchange movements, while mobile network operators remained locked into fixed tariffs.
The NCC said it will continue to engage operators to address coverage gaps and service quality issues, particularly in rural and underserved areas, as it pushes for a more inclusive and resilient digital infrastructure nationwide.