Nigeria’s digital readiness lags as UAE shows leadership

In terms of preparation for the global digital revolution, Nigeria has ranked very low and far behind some of the world’s most connected regions.

Emerging Digital Powerhouse Index, collated by wireless connectivity solution provider, Airgain, revealed this.

The research evaluated a range of factors from 37 countries globally, including average mobile Internet speeds, digital skills and progress in deploying 5G, and the most and least affordable broadband, to reveal which countries lead the digital future.

Airgain noted that in a highly connected world, strong broadband, fast downloads and reliable Internet have become a vital part of our daily lives. Whether it’s for virtual business meetings, streaming TV or staying in touch with loved ones, having strong and reliable Internet access has become a necessity.

According to it, in recent years, having fast connections has also become a big indicator of not only how digitally advanced a country can be, but also how economically strong too. Alongside the availability of Wi-Fi and 5G, their affordability for residents and how tech-savvy the population is, they have all become measures of how best a country is equipped for a digital future.

Indeed, in the report, while South Africa ranked 35th, Nigeria came 37th, and emerged as the last country on the loop, with poor infrastructure and slow Internet speeds, well behind the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which was found to have the fastest, most accessible and affordable Internet connectivity in the world, with a tech-savvy population.

Nigeria also scored poorly for digital skills and slow Internet speeds, despite the huge investments that have gone into 5G deployment, fibre rollouts, and network expansion among others.

Other emerging economies that have the most work to do in the digital space include India, Indonesia, Brazil and Mexico – with Italy being the only European nation in the bottom 10.

CTO of Airgain, Ali Sadri, commented: “We know African nations have long had their economic challenges and there is a great deal of work happening to improve its digital standing, so we hope they will rank much higher in the data in years to come.

“Access to fast, reliable Internet is a game-changer for any population. It doesn’t just boost connectivity − it fuels the knowledge economy, which now accounts for roughly 50 per cent of global economic activity. When people have the tools to access, share and create knowledge quickly, innovation thrives. Entire industries, from healthcare to education to technology, are transformed, opening up opportunities that were previously unimaginable.”

The UAE ranked highest for its 5G connectivity and significantly leads the way for its average mobile download speed at 413Mbps, compared to 350 Mbps in Qatar and 257Mpbs in Kuwait.

It also stood out for broadband affordability and a highly skilled digital workforce.
Countries with the most advanced broadband and mobile connectivity are typically the most prepared to harness the booming knowledge economy, while also unlocking their greatest digital and economic potential.

On how countries can get better connected, Airgain noted that research showed that factors like mobile Internet speeds and 5G connectivity play a significant role in determining a country’s status as a digital leader and its strength in the knowledge economy.

It stressed that countries aiming to enhance their digital positioning should focus on improving digital literacy, infrastructure, and mobile technology investments.