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There is no question that the cost of connectivity and access to it will continue to be a significant issue until there is clear progress ensuring equal access for remote areas and all groups of individuals.

This is the objective of the International Telecommunications Union, ITU, and it continues to be a priority for regulatory bodies such as the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, which guarantees that no one is excluded from accessing telecommunications services, regardless of their social class or standing.

The NCC has been aware of the service and access disparities across the nation and has implemented several initiatives to address these issues. Furthermore, the Facts and Figures 2025, published on November 17 by the ITU, highlighted the problem on a global scale as the international telecommunications organization works to significantly reduce what might become a growing concern in the coming years.

Regrettably, there will always be a significant gap between those who have and those who do not, as well as between wealthy and developed nations and those that are developing or underdeveloped. This disparity is reflected in statistics, the availability of services, and even in the price and standard of these services provided to people across various regions.

A positive narrative, as stated by the ITU, is that internet access keeps growing, with approximately 240 million new users in 2025. “Globally,” the data highlights, “around 6 billion individuals—roughly three-quarters of the global population—are expected to be online by 2025, compared to a revised figure of 5.8 billion in 2024. Nevertheless, 2.2 billion people are still not connected, a decrease from a revised estimate of 2.3 billion in 2024.”

In a world where digital technologies play a crucial role in everyday activities, it is important that everyone has the chance to gain advantages from the internet,” stated ITU Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin. “This report emphasizes that current digital gaps are shaped by factors such as speed, dependability, cost, and expertise, all of which need to be prioritized as we strive for global connectivity.

The negative aspect of the visible expansion is that there will always be a part of the world’s population that remains behind, a group whose future is determined by factors such as geographic position, poverty, poor governmental choices, the pace and expense of emerging technologies, and even instability, among other issues.

For example, the story of 5G technology highlights the price of access. Although 5G now represents approximately one-third—or roughly three billion—of all global mobile broadband subscriptions, the developing world is not able to participate in this technological journey.

In 2025, it is projected that 5G networks will reach 55 percent of the global population, indicating significant progress in cutting-edge mobile technology. Nevertheless, access is still inconsistent, with 84 percent of individuals in high-income nations enjoying 5G connectivity, while just four percent in low-income regions have similar access, as noted by the report.

However, the report also highlights that affordability and digital skills continue to be crucial for attaining universal and effective connectivity—defined as when all individuals can access the Internet with high-quality service, at a reasonable price, whenever and wherever it is required.

It seems that wishes are not horses, making it difficult for ordinary people to access them easily. The summary, similar to a telecoms dashboard, presents the narrative. Despite the efforts of the ITU, the report highlights the continued existence of various digital gaps: 94% of individuals in high-income countries have internet access, compared to just 23% in low-income countries; 96% of those without internet reside in low- and middle-income countries; 77% of men are online, while only 71% of women are; 85% of people in urban areas are connected, versus 58% in rural regions; and 82% of 15-20-year-olds use the internet, compared to 72% of the rest of the population.

When attempting to adapt this report, the key question arises: where does Nigeria stand? A significant amount of work is being invested in expanding the entire telecommunications industry to enhance access and connectivity. The government is working towards establishing a digital economy, which requires the joint efforts of various stakeholders — the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, NCC, industry operators, and others. The government is planning to install 90,000km of national fiber optic cables with a $500m loan from the World Bank. This is one of the major initiatives aimed at improving connectivity and digital inclusion throughout the country.

Following a significant restructuring of the industry last year, which led to some operators losing millions of lines, the sector has made a strong recovery. Active mobile lines now total 173.5 million for a population of 220 million, resulting in an 80 per cent tele-density rate. Broadband connectivity is at 43.34 per cent, equating to 106.97 million high-speed internet connections. This still remains a long way from the 70 per cent goal outlined in the National Broadband Plan, NBP 2020-2025.

Some advancements have been achieved, yet. However, for a nation investing efforts and resources into developing a digital economy, greater outcomes are anticipated. The rationale is that 99 per cent of broadband connections are provided by the mobile sector, which serves as a key driver of economic growth.

There are alarming concerns regarding Nigeria, which aligns with the ITU’s narrative. Following two consecutive applications for 5G licenses, MTN, Mafab Communications, and Airtel were successful and have since implemented their licenses as outlined in their license agreements. In other regions of the world, 5G has significantly boosted broadband adoption due to its fast and reliable performance. However, in Nigeria, the number of 5G connections remains around five million, primarily driven by MTN, Airtel, and Mafab, who are far behind in comparison. These connections are concentrated mainly in a few cities, state capitals, and the Federal Capital Territory. This reflects the disparity highlighted by the ITU in their report, where a significant portion of the population is clearly being left out.

It’s fair to state that Nigerians have not yet experienced the advantages of 5G. This comes as no surprise, given that out of the $28 billion allocated for 5G in Africa by the ITU, only one in every hundred individuals was connected to 5G by 2024. Nigeria is part of this group and clearly requires more significant progress and focus.

However, there are additional elements contributing to the declining connectivity and access within the country. These consist of: instability that hinders new deployment, growth, and maintenance of current infrastructure, fiber cuts caused by construction projects or deliberate destruction (19,384 instances of fiber cuts and 3,241 cases of equipment theft by August 2025), numerous regulations and interference from states (19,000 instances of denied access), power outages throughout the states, and natural events that can be extremely harsh at times.

Without overstatement, there are areas that have been without electricity for more than six months. These regions have reverted to a Stone Age-like existence. My friend resides in one such place, and they have almost been overlooked by the different governing bodies.

However, significant efforts are being made to reverse potential industry challenges. The telecommunications sector has been classified as Critical National Infrastructure, which is part of the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), as outlined in a Presidential Order signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in June 2024. The regulatory body is taking guidance and implementing actions based on policies from the Ministry, and Minister Bosun Tijani appears highly enthusiastic about collaboration with both the industry and the global community.

It’s not unreasonable to say that the era of wide-ranging access gaps, high connectivity costs, and limited connectivity may be coming to an end, but equalizing opportunities still requires significant effort and effective relationship-building. There will also be a need to examine the ITU report, Facts and Figures 2025, with great attention.

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Tagged: Nigeria, ICT and Telecom, West Africa, Economy, Business and Finance

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