From 2G to 3G, 4G and now 5G, the underlying technology of the Internet in Nigeria has remained on the highway. With advancement, ironically, comes a population increasingly disconnected from the digital world, ADEYEMI ADEPETUN reports.

The evolution of Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape in early 2026 presents a mixed picture. On one hand, the country has witnessed measurable improvements in network stability, latency and throughput, particularly in urban centres. On the other hand, persistent structural challenges, negative user sentiment, underutilisation of 5G and stark regional fragmentation continue to undermine the promise of a truly inclusive digital future.

The Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) Network Performance Report and the Comparative Assessment of QoS/QoE authored by Ookla on behalf, which reviewed the sector in Q1 2026, explained the interlinked challenges.

Between performance and perception
Despite technical progress, user sentiment remains stubbornly negative. The report revealed that all major operators – MTN, Airtel, Glo and T2 – recorded negative net promoter scores (NPS) in February 2026. Even MTN, which consistently set the pace, regressed to -0.26, only a slight improvement from -0.31 it scored six months earlier.

Airtel, meanwhile, saw its NPS decline from -0.34 to -0.36, underscoring the fragility of consumer trust.

This dissatisfaction is not primarily about peak download speeds. Instead, it stemmed from network availability and technology access. The report observed that users are increasingly frustrated by the lack of consistent 4G and 5G coverage, especially in areas where their devices are technically capable but the network infrastructure lags. The reports emphasised that coverage gaps, rather than raw speed, drive consumer complaints.

As one section noted, “User dissatisfaction is more closely linked to network availability and technology access (e.g., lack of 5G) than to peak download speeds.”

The Comparative Assessment added nuance by showing that while national download speeds have stabilised, the real breakthrough lies in improved stability metrics, an 8.5 per cent reduction in game latency and a 12.5 per cent reduction in jitter. These improvements should, in theory, enhance real-time experiences such as gaming, VoIP calls, and fintech transactions. Yet the persistence of negative sentiment suggested that consumers are not experiencing these benefits uniformly. The perception gap arises because improvements are concentrated in select urban clusters, leaving vast swathes of the population underserved.

Between device readiness and network reality
Further, the report noted that Nigeria’s 5G rollout illustrated the classic problem of technological mismatch. While the penetration of 5G-capable devices has grown significantly, actual utilisation remains dismally low. In Lagos, only 27.5 per cent of capable devices are connected to 5G networks; in Abuja, the figure is slightly higher at 31.4 per cent. These percentages have not changed since August 2025, even though the absolute number of devices has surged. The reports described this as a “utilisation gap”, a situation where device readiness far exceeds network availability.

Cost of underutilisation
Operators have concentrated 5G investments in commercial hubs, leaving cultural centres, hospitals, and transport nodes underserved. The reports identify 27 critical clusters in Lagos and Abuja where demand is proven, but service remains inadequate.

Fallback to legacy networks: Many devices default to 4G or even 3G due to patchy 5G coverage. This fallback undermined consumer confidence in the technology and perpetuates dissatisfaction.

Static supply vs growing demand: While the number of 5G-capable devices grows, the supply of effective 5G coverage has remained static. This imbalance exacerbated frustration among early adopters who feel shortchanged.

The report noted that strategically, operators must prioritise expanding 5G coverage in high-demand clusters. Without this, Nigeria risks entrenching a two-tier digital society, one where urban elites enjoy advanced connectivity while the majority remains tethered to outdated networks.

Regional fragmentation
Perhaps the most enduring challenge highlighted in both reports is regional fragmentation. Improvements in quality of service (QoS) and quality of experience (QoE) remained concentrated in high-density urban zones such as Lagos, Abuja, and Rivers States. These areas consistently outperform the national average by 30–40 per cent. In contrast, rural and northern regions continue to suffer from what the reports term a “legacy bottleneck”, a reliance on 2G and 3G networks that depresses national averages and limits access to modern digital tools.

The Network Performance report bluntly stated: “Improvements remain concentrated in high-density urban zones like Lagos and FCT, with limited spillover into rural or northern regions.” This fragmentation is not merely a technical issue; it has profound social and economic implications. Rural communities are excluded from the benefits of fintech, e-learning, telemedicine, and other digital services that require stable, high-speed connections.

The comparative assessment echoed this concern, calling for urgent infrastructure upgrades in the Northwest to equalise the digital experience with the South. It emphasised that while jitter reduction and latency improvements are national victories, their impact is muted in regions where legacy networks dominate. Without deliberate policy interventions, such as spectrum refarming, infrastructure sharing, and coordinated deployment, regional fragmentation will persist.

Beyond technical metrics
Both reports stressed that connectivity is not just about speed; it is about reliability and inclusivity. The Latency Dividend, the idea that stable latency is more valuable than peak throughput, captures this shift in focus. For users, the ability to make uninterrupted calls, conduct seamless financial transactions, or participate in online learning matters more than headline speed figures.

The human impact of underutilised 5G and regional fragmentation is stark. In underserved regions, students struggle with unreliable e-learning platforms, patients cannot access telemedicine, and entrepreneurs face barriers to digital commerce. Even in urban centres, the frustration of owning a 5G-capable device that defaults to 4G erodes trust in operators and dampens enthusiasm for technological adoption.

Policy and industry recommendations
To address these challenges, the reports propose several strategies:
Accelerate Retirement of Legacy Networks: Phasing out 2G and 3G is essential to free spectrum for high-capacity 4G and 5G services. This transition is the primary path to closing the urban-rural performance gap.

Infrastructure sharing: Operators should embrace tower sharing and coordinated deployment, particularly in economically challenging northern regions. This would reduce costs and expand coverage more equitably.

Prioritise stability over speed: As the Comparative Assessment notes, jitter reduction and latency improvements directly enhance user satisfaction. Operators should focus on these metrics rather than chasing headline speed figures.

Expand 5G in critical clusters: Targeting hospitals, cultural centres, and transport hubs would maximise the impact of limited resources and demonstrate the tangible benefits of 5G.

Transparency in technology: Educating consumers about 4G/LTE’s current strengths could help manage expectations and reduce frustration until 5G coverage expands.

Bridging the gap between promise and reality
Nigeria’s telecommunications sector stands at a crossroads. The technical progress of recent months—improved stability, reduced jitter, and enhanced QoE—shows that the foundations for a reliable digital future are being laid. Yet negative user sentiment, underutilised 5G, and persistent regional fragmentation reveal a deeper disconnect between promise and reality.

The challenge is not merely to build faster networks but to build inclusive, reliable, and equitable ones.

The report noted that until operators and policymakers confront the structural issues of coverage, utilisation, and regional equity, Nigeria’s digital revolution will remain incomplete.