Nigeria’s broadband penetration crossed the 50% mark for the first time in November 2025, signaling improvement in access to fast internet in the country.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) revealed this in the latest telecom industry data just released.
This, however, means that Nigeria has missed the 70% broadband penetration target set in the National Broadband Plan (NBP 2020-2025), which lapses this December.
According to the NCC data, there were a total of 109.6 million broadband connections in Nigeria as of November.
This put the country’s broadband penetration at 50.58%, a 0.69% increase from the 49.89% recorded in October.
So far this year, the data shows that the country has grown broadband penetration by 6.15% only, as the penetration level stood at 44.43% at the end of 2024.
With the 70% broadband target now missed, industry stakeholders have blamed the development on several factors.
According to the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, the implementation of the broadband Plan has not been able to progress as it should because several challenges identified in the Plan have not been addressed.
Aside from the overall 70% penetration target, the Broadband Plan also set several targets for the country, most of which have been missed.
Going by the timelines of the Plan, broadband penetration in the country is expected to be at 50% at the end of 2023. That was just achieved at the end of 2025.
Recognizing the high cost of smartphones as one of the access barriers to broadband in the country, the Plan developed by key experts in the ICT industry appointed by the government, recommends that the country should have at least one smartphone assembly plant by 2023.