4G Dominates Nigerian Telecom Market Four Years Post 5G

As of March 2026, 4G technology leads the Nigerian telecommunications market with a 53.76% share, significantly ahead of 5G, which has only achieved a 4.2% market share since its rollout began. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) set April 24, 2022, as the official date for the 5G network rollout, with MTN Nigeria Communications PLC being the first mobile network operator to launch 5G commercially on September 18, 2022.

Airtel Nigeria followed with its launch on June 19, 2023. MTN's Chief Executive Officer, Karl Toriola, announced plans to expand 5G coverage to six cities, including Abuja and Port Harcourt.

Airtel's CEO, Carl Cruz, aims for nationwide coverage by the end of 2023. Despite the promise of 5G technology, the penetration rate remains low due to high equipment costs and insufficient manufacturing of compatible devices, as noted by NCC's Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida.