The Fifth-Generation (5G) technology has become a global force, with more than 390 networks live across nearly 160 countries. By the end of 2026, worldwide 5G connections are expected to reach 3.4 billion, about 37 per cent of all mobile connections.

Africa is moving forward, but at a slower pace. As of May 2026, 61 operators across 37 African markets had launched commercial 5G services, with 40 also offering fixed wireless access (FWA). Adoption remains modest: fewer than 100 million connections are expected by year-end, representing just 6.2 per cent of the continent’s mobile base. By 2030, this figure should exceed 380 million, or just over 20 per cent.

According to news from GSMA Intelligence, titled “5G in Africa 2026: Market status, trends and outlook”, revealed that Nigeria is positioning itself as one of Africa’s most ambitious 5G markets. The country has already assigned spectrum in the 2600MHz, 3500MHz, and 3700MHz bands, and is preparing to license 26GHz mmWave spectrum between 2026 and 2028 for enterprise and localised use cases.

This makes Nigeria one of the few African nations actively planning for high-band 5G, even as most regulators across the continent prioritise mid-band frequencies for cost-effective coverage.

Yet adoption remains modest. By the end of 2026, Nigeria’s 5G connections will account for just 15 per cent of total mobile connections, far behind leaders like Morocco (56 per cent) and Mauritius (35 per cent). Coverage is concentrated in Lagos and Abuja, with rural areas still reliant on legacy 2G and 3G networks.

GSMA observed that Nigeria’s 5G ambitions extend beyond consumer markets. The country is exploring low-band massive MIMO deployments, which could improve efficiency in dense urban environments. Enterprise applications, particularly in oil and gas, mining, and logistics, are seen as critical drivers of 5G’s value proposition.

The planned rollout of 26GHz spectrum is expected to support private networks and industrial automation, aligning with Nigeria’s broader digital economy goals.

Across Africa, FWA has emerged as a key monetisation path. Around 40 networks now offer FWA, delivering broadband to homes and businesses. Connections are expected to grow from under one million today to 3.5 million by 2030.

Falling equipment costs have been crucial. Customer-premises equipment (CPE) prices have dropped below $80, compared to over $200 just a few years ago. Operators are further driving uptake by subsidising routers in bundled contracts.

The report revealed that South Africa leads in fixed-mobile convergence, with Rain, MTN, Vodacom, and Telkom offering integrated mobile and home broadband packages. Nigeria is expected to follow suit as affordability improves.

Despite progress, affordability remains the biggest barrier. Entry-level 5G smartphones still cost more than $100, exceeding the monthly minimum wage for many Nigerians. Without subsidies, financing schemes, or tax reductions, mass adoption will remain slow.

Operators are betting on FWA to bridge the gap, but consumer uptake will depend on continued price declines and innovative bundling strategies.

GSMA Intelligence noted that governments and operators must collaborate to unlock Africa’s 5G potential. Policy incentives, infrastructure sharing, and spectrum refarming will be essential. Operators, meanwhile, must focus on monetisation, leveraging FWA, enterprise solutions, and innovative use cases to strengthen the business case for expansion.

The report said Nigeria’s success will hinge on how quickly operators can expand coverage beyond Lagos and Abuja, refarm legacy spectrum, and develop enterprise use cases that justify investment.

Largely, GSMA said Africa’s 5G rollout is gaining momentum, but the next four years will determine whether it becomes a true engine of digital transformation or remains a patchwork of isolated deployments. Nigeria’s bold spectrum strategy and enterprise focus put it at the heart of this revolution, but affordability and infrastructure gaps remain decisive challenges.